Welcome to the enchanting world of lychee (Litchi chinensis), a tropical gem and the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae
Taxonomy Lychee, belonging to the family Sapindaceae, showcases its botanical splendor under the following classification: – Kingdom: Plantae – Clade: Tracheophytes – Clade: Angiosperms – Clade: Eudicots
– Clade: Rosids – Order: Sapindales – Family: Sapindaceae – Tribe: Nephelieae – Genus: Litchi Sonn. – Species: L. chinensis – Binomial name: Litchi chinensis Sonn.
L. chinensis subsp. chinensis: – Commercialized lychee with thin twigs. – Flowers typically have six stamens. – Smooth or protuberance-covered fruit.
L. chinensis subsp. philippinensis (Radlk.) Leenh: – Common in the wild in the Philippines. – Thin twigs, six to seven stamens. – Long oval fruit with spiky protuberances.
L. chinensis subsp. javensis: – Cultivated in Malaysia and Indonesia. – Thick twigs, flowers with seven to eleven stamens. – Smooth fruit with protuberances.
The Tree Litchi chinensis, an evergreen marvel, stands tall, often under 15 m, adorned with grey-black bark and brownish-red branches. Its pinnate leaves, 12.5 to 20 cm long, repel water with laurophyll adaptations, resembling the Lauraceae family.
Blossoming Beauty Witness the spectacle of lychee flowers on terminal inflorescences, forming clusters of ten or more panicles. These panicles, 10 to 40 cm long, house hundreds of fragrant white, yellow, or green flowers, creating an olfactory delight.
Fruition of Flavor The lychee bears fleshy fruits maturing in 80–112 days, varying in shape from round to heart-shaped. The green skin matures to red or pink-red, revealing a layer of translucent white aril with a floral aroma and sweet flavor.
Global Impact Unearth the global footprint of pomegranate production, with India and China leading the charge.