Pometia pinnata

  Pometia pinnata

Synonyms

Dabanus acuminatus (Hook.f.) Kuntze

Dabanus pinnatus (Forst. & Forst.) Kuntze

Euphoria pometia Poir.

Irina alnifolia Blume

Irina glabra Blume

Irina tomentosa Blume

Irina tomentosa var. alnifolia (Blume) Miq.

Irina tomentosa forma cuspidata Blume

Nephelium acuminatum Hook.f.

Nephelium pinnatum (Forst. & Forst.) Cambess.

Pometia acuminata (Hook.f.) Radlk.

Pometia alnifolia (Blume) King

Pometia coriacea Radlk.

Pometia glabra (Blume) Teijsm. & Binn.

Pometia macrocarpa Kurz

Pometia pinnata forma acuminata (Hook.f.) Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma alnifolia (Blume) Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma cuspidata (Blume) jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma glabra (Blume) Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma macrocarpa (Kurz) Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma pinnata Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma repanda Jacobs

Pometia pinnata forma tomentosa (Blume) Jacobs

Pometia pinnata var. javanica Koord. & Valet.

Pometia tomentosa (Blume) Teijsm. & Binn.

Pometia tomentosa var. cuspidata (Blume) J.Britten

Common Names

English: Fijian longan, island lychee 

Spanish: longán de Fiji

Samoa: tava

Malaysia: kasai

Origin

Southeast Asia and Pacific islands.

Ecology

In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests up to 700 m altitude. Often on alluvial sites and along or near rivers and streams, but also on hillsides. On sandy to clay soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant.

Description

Large tree, reaching a height of 60-90 feet (18-27 m). Leaves compound, 12-36 inches (30-91 cm) long, with 4-12 pairs of leaflets. New leaves bright red. Small, bisexual, whitish flowers in terminal panicles 12-18 inches (30-46 cm) long. Fruits round to ellipsoid, with a thin peel that may be greenish to red or almost black when mature. The pulp is cream colored, juicy and sweet, and contains a single large seed.

Propagation and Culture

Propagated by seed, but superior selections could probably be propagated by grafting.

Fijian longan is a fast growing tree, and is found wild from sea level to an altitude of about 2,500 feet (762 m). Cultivated trees should be pruned regularly to facilitate fruit harvest. Fruiting occurs sporadically throughout the year, with the greatest production in December and January in the Northern Hemisphere.

Uses

The wood is used for construction, furniture,

flooring, etc. The wood is also used to produce charcoal. The bark and leaves are used to treat fever and sores. The leaves are used against rice-pests. The fruits are edible.