Rambutan
Family Sapindaceae
Nephelium lappaceum, the rambutan (N. lappaceum 1), is an evergreen tree with pinnate leaves, up to 20 m high, with pinnate leaves and small greenish-white flowers in erect terminal inflorescences. The fruits are red or yellow, 4-6 cm in diameter, and covered with soft spines, recurved at the tip (N. lappaceum 2). The single seed is covered with a white fleshy and edible aril with a sweet-acid taste.
Distribution and use
The rambutan is a native of Malaysia and is highly esteemed in Southeast Asia (N. lappaceum 3), (N. lappaceum 4). It is little grown in other tropical regions. The fruit is eaten fresh or cooked with sugar as a dessert, canned in syrup, and made into jam.