Skip to main content

Longan (Dimocarpus longan)

Dlium Longan (Dimocarpus longan)

Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a plant species in the Sapindaceae family. It is an upright evergreen tree reaching heights of 10–20 meters, featuring a sturdy, cylindrical trunk with hard wood and rough, scaly, fissured bark ranging from grayish-brown to dull dark brown. The branching is expansive and radially horizontal, forming a massive, rounded, umbrella-like crown that is extremely dense and lush.

The leaves are paripinnate and compound, arranged alternately, and measure 15–30 cm in length. Each stalk bears 2–5 pairs of leaflets arranged neatly in opposite or alternate patterns. The leaflets are elongated-elliptical, oblong, or lanceolate, measuring 7–15 cm long and 3–5 cm wide. They have stiff, tapering tips; bases that narrow into an asymmetrical wedge shape; and margins that are entire (smooth) or slightly wavy.

The upper leaf surface is deep green and glossy, with a thick, waxy cuticle and a smooth, hairless texture. The underside is a pale, grayish-green and dull, with prominent, neatly arranged lateral secondary veins. Young leaves emerge simultaneously, displaying a coppery-red or maroon hue before turning green.

The inflorescence consists of massive, densely branched panicles that rise vertically from the tips of the branches, reaching lengths of 15–30 cm. The flowers are small (4–6 mm in diameter) and pentamerous (arranged in multiples of five). They feature five petals—pure white, creamy white, or pale yellowish—that are densely clustered and covered with short, fine hairs on the exterior. Flowering occurs synchronously at the start of the dry season, accompanied by a sweet, spicy, and delicate fragrance.

The fruit is a true fleshy fruit—small to medium-sized, globose or subglobose, and 1.5–3 cm in diameter—growing in dense, hanging clusters on long stalks. The exocarp is thin and firm, ranging from smooth, waxy, and stiff to wrinkled and coarsely textured. When ripe, the fruit is yellowish-light brown, tan, or dull brown.

The mesocarp forms an aril that is soft and fleshy—either clear/transparent or milky-white—juicy, and intensely sweet with a rich aroma. It contains a single, perfectly round seed that is jet-black or blackish-brown, hard, and glossy, featuring a white ring-like patch at the base.

The tree grows in warm, humid subtropical climates with a distinct dry season, free from frost and extreme cold. It requires deep, fertile, loose, organic-rich sandy loam soil with excellent drainage. It does not tolerate heavy, compacted clay or chronically waterlogged soil. It requires full sun exposure.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Dimocarpus Lour. in Fl. Cochinch.: 233 (1790)
Species: Dimocarpus longan Lour. in Fl. Cochinch.: 233 (1790)
Subspecies: Dimocarpus longan subsp. longan, Dimocarpus longan subsp. malesianus Leenh.
Variety: Dimocarpus longan var. echinatus Leenh., Dimocarpus longan var. longetiolatus Leenh., Dimocarpus longan var. obtusus (Pierre) Leenh.

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Euphoria longan (Lour.) Steud. in Nomencl. Bot. 1: 328 (1821)
Nephelium longan (Lour.) Hook. in Bot. Mag. 70: t. 4096 (1844)
Scytalia longan (Lour.) Roxb. in A.Beatson, Tracts St. Helena: 322 (1816)

PUBLICATIONS

Berendsohn, W.G., Gruber, A.K., Rodríguez Delcid, D. & Olmedo Galán, P. (2016). Nova Silva Cuscatlantica. Parte 3: Angiospermae - Familias R a Z y Gymnospermae. Englera 29(3): 1-356.

Brako, L. & Zarucchi, J.L. (1993). Catalogue of the Flowering Plants and Gymnosperms of Peru. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 45: i-xl, 1-1286. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Dy Phon, P. (2000). Dictionnaire des plantes utilisées au Cambodge: 1-915. Chez l'auteur, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2024). Flora of North America North of Mexico 13: 1-566. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.

Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1979). A geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae. Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 15: 41-295.

Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.

Govaerts, R. (2000). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS Genera starting with letter D: 1-30141.

Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Shaw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (eds.) (2017). Flora of Peninsular Malaysia Series II: Seed Plants, volume 6. Malayan Forest Records 49: 1-231.

Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.

Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà Nội : Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp.

Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.

Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Nielsen, I.C. & al. (1992-1994). Flora Malesiana 11: 1-768. Noordhoff-Kolff N.V., Djakarta.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.

Turner, I.M. (1995 publ. 1997). A catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Malaya. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 47(2): 347-655.

Tâm, H.M. (2017). Thực Vật Chí Việt Nam. Flora of Vietnam 12: 1-356. Nhà xuất bản khoa học và kỹ thuật, Hà Nội.

Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 12: 1-534. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: عين التنين - لونجان
Assamese: Asphol, Nagalichi
Bengali: আশফল Ashphol
Bunun: Bual, Lingkiing
Chinese (simplified): 桂圆 - 桂圆儿 - 龙眼 - 龙眼树
Chinese (traditional): 龍眼
English: Longan, Dragon eye
Finnish: Longaani
French: Longane
Garo: Samphal Bol
Guangdong: 龍眼
Hebrew: לונגן
Hong Kong: 龍眼
Indonesian: Lengkeng, Kelengkeng, Mata kucing
Japanese: リュウガン
Java: Klengkeng
Kalimantan: Lengkeng, Kelengkeng, Ihau
Kannada: Kendaala, Kanekendaala, Kenekandaala
Khasi: Dieng Loba
Konkani: Wumb
Korean: 용안
Macao: 龍眼
Malayalam: Chempoovam, Chempunna, Malampoovathi, Poripunna, Pempunna,, Pempuuvam
Marathi: Omb, Umb
Mizo: Thei-fei-mûng
Russian: Димокарпус лонган
Sinhala: මොර
Slovak: Longan dračí
Sumatera: Medaru
Taiwan: 龍眼
Tamil: செம்போவன் - புவட்டி - கட்டுப்புவன் - செம்-புவம் - கட்டு-ப்-புவம் - பிறப்பன் - பூவம் Sempovan, Puvatti, Kattupuvan, Chem-puvam, Kattu-p-puvam, Pirappan, Puvam
Thai: ลำไย

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Awar awar (Ficus septica)

Awar-awar or lagnob or hauli tree or barabar or sirih popar or tobo tobo ( Ficus septica ) is species of plants in Moraceae, trees grow in bushes or in neglected places and sap contained in roots, twigs, leaves and fruit is used to treat poisoning and digestive problems. F. septica is usually 1-5 m high, although in the forest it can be up to 25 m. Round, hollow and bare branches. Roots, twigs, leaves and fruit will emit a yellow sap and sticky if injured. The base of the leaves is large and spiky, arranged alternately or face to face with a stem length of 2.5-5 cm. Large leaf blade, round egg, 9-30x9-16 cm, rounded base and blunt narrow tip, flat-edged, upper side dark green with 6-12 secondary bones pale white. Fruit paired, single or clustered up to 4 items, short-stemmed, at the base has 3 protective leaves, light green or gray green and 1.5 cm in diameter. F. septica is food for 22 animal species including wasps, bats, birds, monkeys and mice as well as seed dispersing vecto...
Post a Comment
Read more