Litchi chinensis Sonn.

Branchlets terete, striate, smooth, or densely lenticellate. Petiole terete to semiterete, swollen and slightly hollowed at base, 1.2-7 cm long, early gla-brescent to glabrous, often pustular lenticellate; petiolules above deeply grooved, swollen toward the base. Leaflets smooth, above shining, glabrous to beneath fairly densely minutely appressed-hairy; base equal-sided to sometimes oblique, acute, more or less attenuate; margin slightly recurved; apex mostly tapering (or more abruptly), short to long, obtuse-to acute-acuminate, sometimes rounded to slightly emarginate; midrib narrowly grooved above, nerves straight to curved, often slightly wavy or zigzagging, looped and joined near the margin or not, inconspicuous on both sides, veins coarsely reticulate, veinlets minutely tessellate; domatia absent. Inflorescences ferrugineous-strigose. Flowers greenish white or yellowish, fragrant. Stamens: filaments filiform; anthers elliptic, apiculate to emarginate at apex, c. 1 mm long. Pistil 1.5-1 mm stipitatc; ovary with spreading lobes, densely warty; style terete. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 2 by 1.5 cm, testa shining (blackish) brown, hilum basal, circular, 6-7 mm cliam., arillode bluish white or light yellow to pinkish, up to 5 mm thick when fresh.

A subtropical plant. It is native to Asia from China to Malaysia. It suits the tropical highlands. It grows satisfactorily in the humid equatorial coastal areas but does not fruit. For fruiting it needs to be at a higher altitude or latitude because it has a cold temperature chilling requirement. Most varieties need between 100 and 200 hours of standard chilling (0° and 7°C). It needs a deep moist soil and freedom from frost. Trees can stand temperatures down to-2°C when mature. Temperatures below 5°C at flowering upset normal flower opening. Cool dry climates are important. Temperatures between 20-38°C suit good fruiting. Although litchi will grow on a range of soils, well drained soils are best. A pH between 5.5 and 7.5 is suitable. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.

The fleshy pulp around the seeds is eaten. They are eaten fresh, preserved or dried. They are pickled, canned, used in jams. sauces, fruit salads, ice cream and made into wine. Dried tea leaves are soaked in lychee juice then dried again to impart a lychee flavour.

Trees are mostly grown from seed but they do not breed true and are slow to produce. Trees can be propagated by aerial layering, grafting or cuttings. Air layering is best. Seeds do not store well (4-5 days), so fresh seed must be sown. Air layers on mature branches in the warmer season are best. Branches of 2 to 2.5 cm across with 45 cm of shoot are suitable for air layers. A spacing between trees of 10-12 m is suitable. Good soil preparation prior to planting enables good early growth. Organic matter dug in over 1 metre square and 30 cm deep 3 months before planting is good. A stick for support of the young plant and shelter are needed at planting. A pH of 5.5 to 6.0 is required. Because it is shallow rooting, cultivation should be avoided and mulching practised. Small amounts of fertiliser added often is the appropriate method. Lychee trees have a high water consumption. Only limited tree training is required. Often no general pruning is required. Plants need adequate water but not waterlogged soil.