Nephelium chryseum
Family: Sapindaceae
What it is like
A tree. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. It grows 10-20 m tall. The branches have a rusty covering of hairs when young. The leaf stalks are 20-40 cm long. The leaflets are in 4 pairs. The blades are 6-18 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They are thinly leathery. The flowers are in branching groups. The male flowering groups are longer than the female. The fruit is red and oval with 2 lobes. The fruit are 4-5 cm long by 3-4 cm wide including the spines. The spines can be 1 cm long.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. A wet and light demanding tree. It grows along streams and on the edges of forests. It occurs below 400-600 m altitude. It does best on wet, thick soil. In Yunnan in China it grows between 600-1300 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The aril around the seed is edible but also slightly posionous. It is eaten raw.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit
How it is grown
A fast growing tree.
Its other names
Local names
Vai guo, Truong chua, Biong, Abiao, Jao, Shao zi