The Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) is a tree of medium size (up to 20 m) belonging to the family of Sapindaceae.
The leaves are pinnate and the foliage is dense. It produces yellow or red fruits, ranging from ball-shaped oval, whose surface is covered by hair or long, are combined into seed heads.
The Rambutan is native of Malaysia in the past and has been cultivated for a long time in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Cultivation techniques
The rambutan grows well in tropical and humid. It adapts to many soils, except those where there is stagnant water and the sand. Ideals are alluvial, deep, very rich in organic matter. Propagation is mainly by cuttings in culture and, less, per graft. If propagation is by seed, different trees are obtained from the mother plant and the fruits are usually bitter. The percentage of male trees is high (the plant is monoecious).
Productions
The tree bears fruit twice a year. The flowering period is from March to May and from August to October. The fruit is mature after about 15-18 weeks after flowering. A tree can produce up to 6,000 fruits.
The fruits are red-brown. Inside, the flesh is white, translucent, juicy, sweet and very aromatic scent. The fruits are high in vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus. They keep for a week at room temperature
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