Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (SAPINDACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Kasai, Island Lychee, Pacific Lychee

Description

Medium-sized tree to 50 m tall with spreading crown. Leaves up to 1 m long, without terminal leaflets, leaflets 4-13 pairs, ovate to elliptic to falcate, margin toothed, young leaves flush pink to reddish brown. Flowers small, c. 2 mm long, white or yellow, in terminal branched clusters. Fruits 1-3 cm across, globular to ovoid, ripening purple, seeds covered with translucent arillode.


Ecology

Common in lowland forest, often on river banks.

Distribution

Sri Lanka, India (Andaman and Nicobar Is.), Thailand, Indochina, throughout Malesia and Pacific to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Uses

Fruits are edible. Often planted as an ornamental.