Litchi Tree

Lychee also known as Litchi Chinesis is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae.

The Litchi is a tropical tree and a tall evergreen which bears small fleshy fruits.  The outside of the fruit is pink-red, roughly textured, and not edible, covering sweet and juicy flesh eaten raw, juiced for a refreshing beverage, and added to various dishes.

The seeds of the Litchi contain methylene cyclopropyl glycine which can cause hypoglycemia associated with outbreaks of encephalopathy.

The evergreen leaves are 12.5-20 cm long, pinnate, having 4-8 alternate, elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, abruptly pointed, leaflets.  The bark is grey-black, the branches a brownish-red.