Where do lychees grow naturally?
It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of China, where cultivation is documented from 1059 AD. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and South Africa.
How much lychee is produced in Thailand?
Lychee production in Thailand stands at about 10,000 tons a year. Lychee is one of Thailand’s commercial fruit crops, and it ranks as one of the top cultivated crops in the country. The leading lychee producing regions are located between 984 to 1,969 feet above sea level in the northern part of the country between Lamphum, Fang, and Chiang Mai.
What is the history of lychee fruit?
The lychee attracted the attention of European travelers, such as the Spanish bishop, explorer, and sinologist Juan González de Mendoza in his History of the great and mighty kingdom of China (1585; English translation 1588), based on the reports of Spanish friars who had visited China in the 1570s gave the fruit high praise:
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Is lychee an Indian fruit?
It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong, Fujian, and Yunnan provinces of Southeast and Southwest China, where cultivation is documented from the 11th century. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by Vietnam, India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Madagascar and South Africa.
Can lychee grow in South India?
Litchi is grown as home stead trees or as isolated trees in coffee plantations in parts of Coorg in Karnataka, Waynad in Kerala and Lower Puleny hills, Kallar and Burliar of Nilgiri hills and some parts of Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. The exact area of litchi in this region in not well known.
How do lychee trees grow in India?
Litchi is a sub-tropical fruit and thrives best under moist sub-tropical climate. It usually prefers low elevation and can be grown up to an altitude of 800 m. (m.s.l.). Deep, well drained loamy soil, rich in organic matter and having pH in the range of 5.0 to 7.0 is ideal for the crop.
Where is lychee mostly grown?
Lychee is mostly grown in central and southern Taiwan Province of China. The total area under cultivation in 1999 was 11,961 hectares, with 11,580 hectares of bearing trees and 108,668 tonnes of total production (Anon., 2000).
Which city is famous for litchi in India?
MuzaffarpurMuzaffarpur is famous for Shahi lychees and is known as the Lychee Kingdom....MuzaffarpurNickname: Lychee CityMuzaffarpur Location in India Show map of Bihar Show map of India Show allCoordinates: 26°7′21″N 85°23′26″ECountryIndia31 more rows
Do you need 2 lychee trees to produce fruit?
Lychees are self-pollinating, producing both male and female flowers on the same panicle, so only one tree is needed to get fruit.
Which country is famous for lychee?
Lychee (Litchi chinesis Sonn.) originated in the northern tropical and southern sub-tropical regions of South China. Wild lychee trees can be found as one of the dominant tree species of tropical rainforests in southern provinces such as Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan.
Is lychee easy to grow?
Lychee seeds require specific conditions to sprout and bear fruit, but seeding is relatively simple, and you can enjoy lychees in several different ways.
Is it hard to grow a lychee tree?
Since the tree is subtropical, it can be grown in USDA zones 10-11 only. A beautiful specimen tree with its shiny leaves and attractive fruit, lychee thrives in deep, fertile, well-draining soil. They prefer an acidic soil of pH 5.0-5.5. When growing lychee trees, be sure to plant them in a protected area.
Which state litchi is best?
Union Minister said that Bihar is the top litchi producing State in the country. In Bihar, about 300 thousand metric tonnes of litchi is being produced from 32 thousand hectares of area.
What is litchi called in English?
lychee, (Litchi chinensis), also spelled litchi or lichi, evergreen tree of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), grown for its edible fruit.
Is lychee a nut or fruit?
Owing in large part to its short season, the litchi, a native of southeastern Asia, is widely regarded as a delicacy. Revered for more than 2,000 years in China, it is referred to by any of several forms of the name, among them lichi, lichee and lychee, leechee and laichee.
Do lychees grow in hot weather?
Dry summer and light winter is most favourable for its fruit growth. Litchi cannot tolerate frost during winter & also dry heat during summer. The temperature should not be more than 40 °c in summer and below freezing point in winter.
Can we grow lychee in Bangalore?
You can grow a Lychee tree at home in Bengaluru, but stand fair warned that you may end up with a handsome looking tree that might not bear fruit often. Lychees can be cultivated by seed, or through cuttings.
Can we grow Litchi in Andhra Pradesh?
The National Research Centre on Litchi has developed few varieties of the fruit, suitable for south India, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Can lychees grow in tropical weather?
Preferred Climate for Best Growth In tropical climates, lychee trees do not fruit well when grown at sea level locales. It's best adapted to growing in warm to cool subtropical locations with the following conditions: Dry, cold (non-freezing) winters that last three to five months. Warm spring during flowering.
What dynasty was the lychee?
In the 1st century during the Han dynasty, fresh lychees were a popular tribute item, and in such demand at the Imperial Court that a special courier service with fast horses would bring the fresh fruit from Guangdong. There was great demand for lychee in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), according to Cai Xiang, in his Li chi pu (Treatise on Lychees). It was also the favorite fruit of Emperor Li Longji (Xuanzong) 's favored concubine Yang Yuhuan (Yang Guifei). The emperor had the fruit delivered at great expense to the capital.
What is lychee seed?
In 1962, it was found that lychee seeds contained methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), a homologue of hypoglycin A , which caused hypoglycemia in animal studies. Since the end of the 1990s, unexplained outbreaks of encephalopathy occurred, appearing to affect only children in India (where it is called chamki bukhar ), and northern Vietnam (where it was called Ac Mong encephalitis after the Vietnamese word for nightmare) during the lychee harvest season from May to June.
How long does it take for lychee to mature?
The lychee bears fleshy fruits that mature in 80–112 days depending on climate, location, and cultivar. Fruits vary in shape from round to ovoid to heart-shaped, up to 5 cm long and 4 cm wide (2.0 in × 1.6 in), weighing approximately 20 g. The thin, tough skin is green when immature, ripening to red or pink-red, and is smooth or covered with small sharp protuberances roughly textured. The rind is inedible but easily removed to expose a layer of translucent white fleshy aril with a floral smell and a sweet flavor. The skin turns brown and dry when left out after harvesting. The fleshy, edible portion of the fruit is an aril, surrounding one dark brown inedible seed that is 1 to 3.3 cm long and 0.6 to 1.2 cm wide (0.39–1.30 by 0.24–0.47 in). Some cultivars produce a high percentage of fruits with shriveled aborted seeds known as 'chicken tongues'. These fruits typically have a higher price, due to having more edible flesh. Since the floral flavor is lost in the process of canning, the fruit is usually eaten fresh.
How long are lychee leaves?
Its evergreen leaves are 12.5 to 20 cm (4.9 to 7.9 in) long, with leaflets in two to four pairs. Lychee are similar in foliage to the family Lauraceae, likely due to convergent evolution. They are adapted by developing leaves that repel water, and are called laurophyll or lauroid leaves.
Where does Litchi Chinensis grow?
Litchi chinensis subsp. chinensis is the only commercialized lychee. It grows wild in southern China, northern Vietnam, and Cambodia.
How much water is in lychee?
Raw lychee fruit is 69% water, 42% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contains negligible fat. The raw pulp is rich in vitamin C, having 72 mg per 100 grams – an amount representing 86% of the Daily Value – but contains no other micronutrients in significant content.
How to propagate lychee?
The most common way of propagating lychee is through a method called air layering or marcotting. Air-layers, or marcotts, are made by cutting a branch of a mature tree, covering the cut with a rooting medium, such as peat or sphagnum moss, then wrapping the medium with polyethylene film and allowing the cut to root.
What zone do lychee trees grow in?
In the United States, lychee trees grow well in USDA zones 10a through 11b. However, those living in the warmest regions of zone 9b can grow a lychee tree provided the tree gets protection during an unexpected freeze. Those in a bit cooler climates can grow it in large containers and bring indoors to a protected location during winter.
How to protect a lychee tree from freezing?
Expert Tip: Protect an outdoor lychee tree during an unexpected freeze by covering it with sheets or burlap. Water the root system thoroughly the day before cold weather arrives, as it helps insulate the root system.
What temperature does lychee tree damage?
Temperatures ranging between 28°F and 32°F (-2° to 0°C) damage young lychee trees. Whereas, temperatures ranging between 24°F to 25°F (-3° to -4°C) can damage mature trees, especially if the low temperatures remain for several hours.
When was the lychee tree first planted?
The earliest known record of lychees is from 1059 A.D. in Chinese literature, so the fruit tree has a long history. Over the years, its cultivation spread throughout Southeast Asia and the surrounding islands.
Where does the lychee tree come from?
The tree is originally native to southern portions of China, and in Chinese, the word “Lee Chee” means “gifts for a joyful life.”.
Do lychee trees grow well in tropical climates?
In tropical climates, lychee trees do not fruit well when grown at sea level locales. It’s best adapted to growing in warm to cool subtropical locations with the following conditions: Dry, cold (non-freezing) winters that last three to five months. Warm spring during flowering. Hot and humid summer during fruiting.
How much vitamin C is in lychees?
Lychees are low in calories and are rich in fiber. 100g of fresh lychee fruit provides 86% of the daily recommended vitamin C which is essential for immunity. Eating nine fruits a day would give one the total daily recommended vitamin C dosage.
What is the second dominant fruit in Guangdong?
Lychee is the second dominant fruit after citrus in Guangdong. Cultivation of the plant through the years has led to more than 100 varieties being cultivated in the region. Sum Yee Hong, Chen Zi, Tai So, Souey Tung, Kwai May, No Mai Chee, Wai Chee, Haak Yip and Fay Zee Siu are some of the leading cultivars in the province of Guangdong and Fujian.
How much lychee is grown in Thailand?
Lychee production in Thailand stands at about 10,000 tons a year . Lychee is one of Thailand’s commercial fruit crops, and it ranks as one of the top cultivated crops in the country. The leading lychee producing regions are located between 984 to 1,969 feet above sea level in the northern part of the country between Lamphum, Fang, and Chiang Mai. Cultivars in Thailand were introduced from China in the 1950s though lychee cultivation had been going on earlier.
Where does lychee come from?
Top Lychee Producing Countries in the World. Lychee is a tropical fruit that originated from Guangdong and Fujian provinces in China. Lychee is a tropical fruit that originated from Guangdong and Fujian provinces in China. Cultivation of the tree in the regions dates back to 1059 CE. China is the top producer of lychees followed by other countries ...
When was lychee introduced to Taiwan?
In 1760 and 1860, the lychee varieties of Chong Yun Hong and Haak Yip were introduced from China mainland to northern Taiwan. Large-scale production of the fruit for commercial purpose began towards the end of the 1920's when the fruit was introduced in the southern parts of Taiwan.
Where does the fruit come from?
From China, the fruit was introduced in several other countries across the world. China is the leading producer and exporter of the fruit which can be eaten fresh, dried, or canned. A large percentage of the fruit is consumed fresh meaning the fruit has a short shelf life.
Overview
Lychee is a monotypic taxon and the sole member in the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae.
It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong, Fujian, and Yunnan provinces of Southeast and Southwest China, where cultivation is documented from the 11th century. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by Vietnam, India, oth…
Taxonomy
Litchi chinensis is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae. It was described and named by French naturalist Pierre Sonnerat in his account "Voyage aux Indes Orientales et à la Chine, fait depuis 1774 jusqu'à 1781" (translation: "Voyage to the East Indies and China, made between 1774 and 1781"), which was published in 1782. There are three subspecies, de…
Description
Litchi chinensis is an evergreen tree that is frequently less than 15 m (49 ft) tall, sometimes reaching 28 m (92 ft).
Its evergreen leaves, 5 to 8 in (12.5–20 cm) long, are pinnate, having 4 to 8 alternate, elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, abruptly pointed, leaflets,
The bark is grey-black, the branches a brownish-red. Its evergreen leaves are 12…
History
Cultivation of lychee began in the region of southern China, going back to 1059 AD, Malaysia, and northern Vietnam. Unofficial records in China refer to lychee as far back as 2000 BC. Wild trees still grow in parts of southern China and on Hainan Island. The fruit was used as a delicacy in the Chinese Imperial Court.
In the 1st century during the Han dynasty, fresh lychees were a popular tribute it…
Cultivation and uses
Lychees are extensively grown in southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the rest of tropical Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and in tropical regions of many other countries. They require a tropical climate that is frost-free and is not below the temperature of −4 °C (25 °F). Lychees require a climate with high summer heat, rainfall, and humidity, growing optimally on well-drained, slightly acidic so…
Cultivars
There are numerous lychee cultivars, with considerable confusion regarding their naming and identification. The same cultivar grown in different climates can produce very different fruit. Cultivars can also have different synonyms in various parts of the world. Southeast Asian countries, along with Australia, use the original Chinese names for the main cultivars. India grows more than a doz…
Poisoning
In 1962, it was found that lychee seeds contained methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), a homologue of hypoglycin A, which caused hypoglycemia in animal studies. Since the end of the 1990s, unexplained outbreaks of encephalopathy occurred, appearing to affect only children in India (where it is called chamki bukhar), and northern Vietnam (where it was called Ac Mong encephalitis after the Vietnamese word for nightmare) during the lychee harvest season from Ma…
Gallery
• China 3 cultivar of lychee fruit
• Lychee fruits at a market in West Bengal, India
• Peeled lychee fruits