Rambutan fruits are easily recognized because of their spines and bright color. This page provide basic information on rambutan, and some rambutan photos.
| Scientific name: | Nephelium lappaceum |
| English: | Rambutan |
| Dutch: | Ramboetan |
| Dutch: | Harige lychee |
| Spanish: | Rambután |
| Spanish: | Mamón chino |
| Spanish: | Achotillo |
| French: | Ramboutan |
| French: | Litchi chevelu |
| German: | Rambutan |
| Italian: | Rambutan |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Origin: | South-east Asia |
| Distribution: | South-east Asia, Central America, Africa , Australia, Carribean. |
| Evergreen or deciduous: | Evergreen |
| Leaves: | Alternate pinnate leaves with 3-11 leaflets. leaves are 10-30 cm long. Leaflet are 5-15 cm long and 3-10 cm broad. |
| Fruits: | The fruits are round to oval in shape, 3-6 cm long and 3-4 cm in diameter. The thick leathery skin has a reddish color and has many fleshy soft spines. The firm flesh of the fruit is translucent, whitish or very pale pink. It has a sweet, slightly acidic flavor. The fruit contains one single seed, which is glossy brown and about 2-3 cm long. This seed is poisonous and should not be eaten. |
| Climate and weather: | Requires a warm tropical climates. Cannot tolerate temperatures below 10 °C. |
| Pollination: | Pollinated by insects, especially bees. |
| Height: | 10-20 meter |
| Type of soil: | Deep soils that contain a lot of organic matter. |
| Spacing (close range) | 6 meter |
| Spacing (wide range) | 10 meter |
| Propagation: | Propagation by grafting, air-layering, or budding. |
| Insect pests: | Few pests. Some leaf eating insects. Mealybugs. |
| Diseases: | Few diseases. Powdery mildew. Stem cancer. |
| Harvesting: | Many trees fruit twice a year. Harvested by hand, cutting the entire fruit cluster from the branch. If individual fruits are picked it is important to cut them off with a piece of stem attached, to avoid damaging the peel. Avoid bruising of the fruits, and store them dry and cool. |
| Uses: | Fruits are usually eaten fresh. |
Last modified: 20 August 2010 - Copyright © 1995-2010 by Hein Bijlmakers - Contact me
