Perennial Edible Fruits C2P58

Nephelium glabrum Noronha
Common names: redan, rambutan pachat (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands.

Description: Medium tree. Propagation by seed. Fruit 1.5 cm long, exterior color purple.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Flavor sweet, astringent; low appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.

Nephelium lappaceum L.
Common names: rambutan (Malaya, English, Spanish); ngo-phan (Thai).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Introduced widely into Tropics but rare outside Asia.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands. Not tolerant of frost, high-pH soils.

Description: Tree to 13 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Male and hermaphroditic trees exist; fruiting increased by planting these together. Fruit ovoid, 5-6 cm long, in clusters of 10-12; external color greenish, yellow, or red; internal color whitish, translucent. Varieties selected in Southeast Asia.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh, stewed, canned, in jams, jellies. Flavor sweet; great appeal. Good potential for expansion of commercial production in hot Tropics because of regular bearing.

References: Burkill 1935, Leon 1968, Popenoe 1939, Valmayor et al. 1971.

Nephelium malaiense GNU.
Common names: cat's-eye (English); mats kuching (Malaya).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia; some introduction elsewhere but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 4-5 years. Flowers in March-May (Florida). Fruit matures in about 120 days. Fruit ovoid, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, in large clusters; external color brown; internal color whitish, translucent.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Flavor sweet, aromatic; moderate appeal. Little potential for cultivation outside Asia.

References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967.

Nephelium mutabile Blume
Common names: pulasan (Malaya); ngo-khonsan (Thai).

Origin: Southeast Asia.

Distribution: Southeast Asia; some introduction else-where but rare.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 9 m. Propagation by seed, layering, grafting. Polygamous; some varieties bear parthenocarpic fruit. Fruit globose, 3-6 cm long; external color yellow or red, internal white.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh, cooked, in jams, desserts. Flavor subacid to sweet; general appeal. Regular bearing. Good potential for wider cultivation in hot Tropics.

Reference: Molesworth Allen 1967.

Pometia pinnata Forst.
Common names: Fijian longan (English); kasai, asam kuang (Malaya).

Origin: Malaysia. Polynesia.

Distribution: Introduced into other areas of the Tropics, mostly in Asia and South Pacific islands.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical climate at low and medium altitudes.

Description: Tree to 40 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit globose, 5 cm long; external color brown, internal whitish.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Seed roasted. Flavor of aril sweet; low appeal. Little potential as food crop.

References: Neal 1965, Wester 1925.

Talisia esculenta Radlk. (= Sapindus esculentus St. Nil.)
Common names: pitomba, pitombeira (Portuguese); pitoulier comestible (French).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed. Flowers September-November (Brazil). Fruit matures in 120 days. Fruit 3 cm long, 2.5 cm in diameter; external color yellow; internal color white, translucent.

Utilization: Aril eaten fresh. Flavor subacid; moderate appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Cavalcante 1974, Fouqué 1974.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics