Lychee
Lychee: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Lychee, Litchi chinensis, is an evergreen fruit tree native to southern China and southeastern Asia. It belongs to the soapberry family, alongside longan and rambutan. Its clustered fruits have a rough outer covering, often pink to red, surrounding a white, translucent and very juicy edible portion.The tree develops a dense, rounded canopy that can become substantial in a favourable climate. A mature specimen may exceed ten metres, depending on the variety and its development. The leaves are compound, with several leaflets making up each leaf. Young growth takes on reddish tones before turning glossy green. This contrast between new growth and older foliage gives the tree ornamental interest even when it has no fruit.The small greenish flowers gather in large clusters at the ends of branches. They are less conspicuous than the fruit clusters. A tree bears different male and female flower types, pollinated particularly by bees and some flies.…
