Sapindaceae · Nephelium

Rambutan

Nephelium lappaceum

Tree
Habit
Tree
Found in India
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Flowering
March-November

Plant Details

Scientific name
Nephelium lappaceum
Genus
Nephelium
Habit
Tree
Native to
Thailand, Malaysia, China
Found in India
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Flowering & fruiting
March-November
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf arrangement
AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.The leaves are alternate, 14–30 cm (6–12 in) long, pinnate, with three to eleven leaflets, each leaflet 5–15 cm (2–6 in) wide and 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) broad with an entire margin. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf type
Pinnately compoundrecordedLeaflets are arranged in rows along a central stalk, like a feather.The leaves are alternate, 14–30 cm (6–12 in) long, pinnate, with three to eleven leaflets, each leaflet 5–15 cm (2–6 in) wide and 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) broad with an entire margin. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Entire leaf margin
Leaf margin
EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.The leaves are alternate, 14–30 cm (6–12 in) long, pinnate, with three to eleven leaflets, each leaflet 5–15 cm (2–6 in) wide and 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) broad with an entire margin. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Pinnate venation leaf character
Venation
Pinnate

Characters marked “recorded” are for Rambutan itself; the rest are typical of the Sapindaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower arrangement
PaniclerecordedA branching cluster of clusters.The flowers are small, 2.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in), apetalous, discoidal, and borne in erect terminal panicles 15–30 cm (6–12 in) wide. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fruit surface
HairyrecordedCovered in visible hairs or fuzz.

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Panicle
Fruit
Capsule

Characters marked “recorded” are for Rambutan itself; the rest are typical of the Sapindaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Telugu
రాంబూటన్
Bengali
রামবুটান
Sinhala
රඹුටන්

About Rambutan

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) belongs to the Sapindaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Flowering and fruiting run from March to November.

Uses

Locally it is grown for parts that are eaten, long used in traditional medicine and planted as an ornamental. Those medicinal uses are traditional attributions, not medical advice.

Illustration representing the Sapindaceae family
Botanical family

Sapindaceae

Soapberry/Lychee family

Rambutan belongs to the Sapindaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

Explore the Sapindaceae family →

Snap it. Know it.

Point your camera at Rambutan or any plant and SASYA identifies it instantly — on-device, offline, and private.

Download SASYA — Free

Common plant problems

All plant problem & care guides →

More in Sapindaceae

View all Sapindaceae