St Mary's College, Sulthan Bathery   /   Plant

Plant Details

Litchi chinensisSoner

A large evergreen tree reaching about 6-12 m tall. The bark is grey-black, the branches a brownish-red. Leaves are 10-25 cm or longer, with leaflets in 2-4 pairs. Flowers grow on a terminal inflorescence with many panicles. The panicles grow in clusters of ten or more reaching 10-40 cm or longer, holding hundreds of small white, yellow or green flowers that are distinctively fragrant. The fruit varies in shape from round to ovoid to heart-shaped. The thin, tough inedible skin is green when immature, ripening to red or pink-red. The fleshy , edible portion of the fruit is an aril, surrounding one dark brown inedible seed that is about 1 - 3 cm long and about 0.6-1.5 cm wide

  • Family: Sapindaceae
  • Habit: Trees, ca 12m. Leaves alternate, pinnate.
  • Habitat: Evergreen Forests
  • Status : Common


Vernacular names

Lechu (Assamese)

Medicinal Uses

It has anti-cancer properties. The fruit has flavonoids in the pulp which helps fight fatal and lethal diseases like cancer. Also helps normalizing blood pressure thus preventing from strokes and coronary heart diseases. It also improves digestion and maintains healthy bones. Favorite fruit of local people for its high source of Vitamin B and Vitamin C and all other medicinal properties