rambutan

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, it is a member of the family Sapindaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Nephelium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In South Tropical Africa, its presence is noted within the borders of Angola. Moving toward Asia, it can be found in various parts of China, specifically in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Additionally, the species inhabits the Indian Subcontinent, with documented occurrences in Sri Lanka. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nephelium lappaceum is characterized by its presence within anthropic areas, indicating a high degree of adaptability to environments modified by human activity. This species typically thrives across a specific altitudinal gradient, with its distribution ranging from a minimum elevation of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most commonly found at a mean elevation of 1000 m AMSL, a range that likely supports the specific climatic and soil requirements necessary for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Nephelium lappaceum is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for many years and undergoes continuous growth cycles throughout its existence. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen status, ensuring that its foliage remains lush and functional across different seasons without the need for a period of dormancy marked by leaf shedding. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a consistent evergreen habit allows the species to maintain a stable presence in its ecological niche, providing a steady canopy and continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nephelium lappaceum is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, capable of reaching a significant stature in its natural habitat. The plant typically attains a mean height of 15 m, though it has the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 30 m. It functions as an independent organism, rather than a parasite, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, showing no aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. While some members of its family may exhibit climbing behaviors, this species is categorized as a self-supporting structure, lacking the characteristics of a liana, vine, or obligatory climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nephelium lappaceum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliage features elliptic leaf forms with entire margins, lacking both thorns and spines. Morphologically, the leaves maintain an average length of 12.3 cm and an average width of 4.4 cm, with a mean thickness of 0.018 mm. The leaf architecture is further defined by a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 180.4447126 cm²/g, a value that remains constant across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. Structurally, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) of approximately 720.67 mg/cm³, providing essential support and vascular integrity. Additionally, Nephelium lappaceum does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nutrient uptake from the soil.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length mean:

12.3 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thickness mean:

0.018 mm

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width mean:

4.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

180.4447126 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

720.666666666667 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nephelium lappaceum is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects. The reproductive process is facilitated by self-fertilization, which is present within the species. The plant produces fleshy fruits that vary in width, with a mean measurement of 3.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. The seeds produced are substantial, with a mean mass of approximately 1.92 g, though they can vary significantly from a minimum of 0.23 g to a maximum of 3.355 g. These seeds exhibit specific morphological dimensions, including a mean length of 25.2 mm and a maximum width of 14.7 mm, with a maximum height reaching 8.8 mm. Furthermore, the seed volume is consistently recorded at a mean of 2900 mm³, with both the minimum and maximum values also reaching 2900 mm³, indicating a highly uniform seed volume.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

8.8 mm

Seed length mean:

25.2 mm

Seed mass max:

3.355 g

Seed mass mean:

1.919633333 g

Seed mass min:

0.23 g

Seed volume max:

2900 mm³

Seed width max:

14.7 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Nephelium lappaceum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed.

Fruit

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Seed

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Nephelium lappaceum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Siphonodin, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside.

Siphonodin

1. Journal of natural products

kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Nephelium lappaceum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiglycation, Antioxidant.

Antiglycation

1. Nutrients

Antioxidant

1. Nutrients

Conditions

Nephelium lappaceum has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, Streptococcus pyogenes.

Bacillus subtilis

1. Scientific reports

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Scientific reports

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Scientific reports

Salmonella enterica

1. Scientific reports

Streptococcus pyogenes

1. Scientific reports

Creatinine

1. Nutrients

Glycated serum protein

1. Nutrients

Herpes simplex virus type 1

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Lipid peroxidation

1. Nutrients

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus

1. Scientific reports

Preparations

Nephelium lappaceum has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dichloromethane extracts.

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of natural products