Fijian longan, Malugai
Pometia pinnata fo. glabra
Family: Sapindaceae
What it is like
A large tree with a crooked irregular stem. The leaves are large and alternate. They have 4 to 9 pairs of leaflets. The flower arrangement is at the ends of branches and is profuse. The flowers are small and yellowish white. The fruit is round 3 cm across and hard and brittle. The skin of the ripe fruit peels off like a mandarin. The edible part is a clear layer around the seed, like in a rambutan.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. They are widely scattered throughout the Philippines. The broadleafed type is found along creeks in deep ravines while the narrow type is on forested ridges. It occurs in lowland and lower montane forest. They occur from sea level to 700 m altitude. (The inedible kind occurs on the ridges and is the more useful timber tree.)
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The fleshy portion around the seed is eaten raw. CAUTION The edible form of ton must be chosen. The actual seeds have been reported to be poisonous.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Trees mostly grow wild but they are also planted from nuts after the flesh is eaten. They are often transplanted.
Fruit production is seasonal. The season is very short and is between November and March.