leechee
Litchi chinensis Sonn.
Litchi chinensis, commonly known as leechee, is a species in the genus Litchi of the family Sapindaceae. It is a monotypic taxon, meaning it is the sole representative of its genus. The fruit is edible, with a sweet and mildly tart flavor and a floral aroma, often likened to that of roses.
Description
Litchi chinensis, published in 1782 by Sonn., is native to regions including China Southeast, Hainan, India, and parts of Southeast Asia. It is cultivated and found in botanical gardens such as the Jardín Botánico de Bogotá. The fruit has a translucent, juicy flesh enclosed in a rough, inedible rind. It is valued for its unique taste and is consumed fresh or processed. The plant is part of the Sapindaceae family, which includes other economically important species such as the longan and rambutan.
Other common names
litchilycheeleechee
Distribution
TW · ZA · SC · BN · KM · SE · Kruger National Park · BR · Jardín Botánico de Bogotá · Andaman Is. · Assam · Bangladesh · Borneo · Cambodia · China Southeast · East Himalaya · Hainan · India · Jawa · Laos · Malaya · Mauritius · Myanmar · New Guinea · Philippines · Réunion · Thailand · Vietnam · Manizales · GN
Synonyms
Nephelium chinenseNephelium didymumNephelium litchiLitchi chinensis var. euspontaneaScytalia litschiScytalia chinensisScytalia squamosaCorvinia litschiEuphoria didymaEuphoria litchiEuphoria puniceaEuphoria sinensisLitchi sinensisNephelium litchiSapindus edulis
