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Nephelium hypoleucum Kurz
| Family Name: | Sapindaceae |
Nephelium hypoleucum is a tree, up to 30 m tall. Found in the rainforests, the fruit ripens red and is densely covered with warts. The seed is surrounded with a sourish white fleshy sarcostesta.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 30 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree (rarely shrub) which can reach up to 30 m tall and the trunk can reach up to 1.4 m diameter. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are compound, paripinnate and spirally arranged. The leaf stalk (petiole) is 3 – 16 cm long. Each leaf comprises of 1 – 4 (– 5) leaflets. They are ovate (6.5 – 30 cm long and 2 – 8 cm wide) and stiff papery texture (chartaceous). The leaflet margin is uneven or slightly wavy (repand). The leaflet base is rounded to acute while leaflet tip is obtuse to sharply pointed (acute). The upper surface of the leaflet is mostly glabrous while the underside can be glabrous or covered with appressed soft silky hairs (sericeous). The domatia are usually present yet sometimes absent. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence occur as a long spike (thyrsoid) at the terminal position in the upper leaf axils. The inflorescence comprises of many small greenish white flowers which are fragrant and rich in nectar. The flowers are unisexual and male flower has 7 to 10 stamens each. |
| Fruit | The fruit is ellipsoid (2 – 3 cm long and 1.5 - 2.25 cm wide) and densely warty. The warts are pyramidal or linear which can reach up to 1.5 mm high. The fruit is fleshy and turns red when ripe. The seed is surrounded with an edible white fleshy sarcostesta. |
| Habitat | It is found in rainforest, mainly on fertile sandy soils, up to 1200 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Flowers are pollinated by insects. The fruit are eaten mainly by primates and squirrels, and likely dispersed by primates. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Nephelium', in Greek, means a little cloud, which refers to the fruit. Specific epithet ‘hypoleucum’, in Greek, means white beneath. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit & Vegetable): The white fleshy sarcotesta of the fruit is edible and reported to have a sourish taste. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Papery |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Spiral |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Obtuse, Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute, Rounded / Obtuse |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 34265 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8678 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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