2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Rambutan (lat. Nephelium lappaceum) Is a tropical fruit tree belonging to the Sapindovye family.
Description
Rambutan is mostly an evergreen tree with a spreading and rather lush crown and reaching a height of twenty-five meters. At the same time, the average height of trees is in the range from four to seven meters. The paired leaves of the plant are endowed with ovoid or oval leathery leaves in the amount of two to eight pieces.
Miniature rambutan flowers are collected in highly branched inflorescences located at the tips of branches.
Oval or rounded fruits of this culture, the size of which ranges from three to six centimeters, form clusters, each of which contains up to three dozen pieces. As it ripens, the color of the fruit changes first from green to yellowish orange, and then to bright red. All fruits are covered with a rather dense skin, but at the same time, easily separating from the pulp. And the surface of the skin of rambutan is densely covered with rather rigid and hook-like hairs of light or dark brown shades curving at the tips. Often, the length of such hairs can reach two centimeters.
The flesh of rambutan fruit is very aromatic, gelatinous and sweet and sour. By the way, its taste is reminiscent of the taste of green sweet grapes. The color of the pulp can be either slightly reddish or white. And oval and rather large brownish seeds often reach a length of three centimeters.
Rambutan has a huge number of subspecies - it can be either evergreen or deciduous, and its fruits can be both fruit and berry shapes.
Where grows
Rambutan is a plant native to Southeast Asia, so it grows mainly in the countries of this region. Quite often, this culture can be found in Malaysia, Thailand and distant Indonesia. Rambutan is no less popular on the islands of the Caribbean, as well as in Central America, in sunny Australia and in hot Africa. And the most extensive plantations are in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Rambutan is one of the favorite fruits in Thailand - Thais tell many beautiful legends about this fruit, and in August they even celebrate a holiday dedicated to this tree.
Application
Rambutan fruits are eaten mostly fresh. In addition, they are often canned with sugar.
Rambutan is very rich in niacin, proteins, carbohydrates, various trace elements and vitamin C.
Raw rambutan seeds are poisonous, but when roasted they become quite edible. And the oil from these seeds is actively used in the production of candles and soap.
The leaves, bark and roots of this culture are widely used for the production of dyes for fabrics and in folk medicine. And in Malaya, the dried bark of this tree can be found literally in every pharmacy.
Raw fruits are great for treating diarrhea and dysentery. The fragrant pulp of rambutan helps to stop the process of improper digestion of food and has a calming effect on sore intestines. Also in many countries, this fruit is used as an anthelmintic. And the leaves of these amazing trees are used to make poultices that help relieve headaches.
Growing
Rambutan can be grown at home as a houseplant. The ideal temperature for this will be about eighteen to twenty degrees, and the lighting should resemble tropical rambutan, that is, this plant should have approximately the same amount of light and dark time (about twelve hours).
