Dimocarpus is a genus of trees and shrubs in the flowering plant family Sapindaceae (order Sapindales), comprising around seven species. Members are large evergreen trees typically reaching 25–40 m in height, bearing pinnate leaves. The flowers are individually inconspicuous but are produced in large branching panicles. The fruit is a distinctive oval drupe, 3–5 cm long, with a thin but hard orange or red skin enclosing a translucent, crisp, juicy layer of pulp surrounding a single seed.
The genus is native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, and Australasia, with species recorded from Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, southern China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, East Timor, and far north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
The best-known and economically important member is Dimocarpus longan, the longan, whose sweet, translucent fruit pulp is eaten fresh or dried and is grown commercially throughout its native and introduced range. Other species in the genus, such as D. yunnanensis, are far less widely known and are not commercially cultivated for fruit.
Distribution
Native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, and Australasia — recorded in Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, southern China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, East Timor, and far north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
Cultural Uses
The edible fruit of Dimocarpus longan (longan) is grown commercially and eaten fresh or dried; other species in the genus are not commercially significant for fruit.
Taxonomy Notes
Placed in family Sapindaceae, order Sapindales. Wikipedia describes the genus as containing 7 species, while the GBIF backbone currently lists 5 descendant taxa — a minor discrepancy between sources.
