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Nephelium cuspidatum

Family Name:	Sapindaceae
Common Name:	Lotong

Nephelium cuspidatum, also known as Lotong, is a tree, up to 40 m tall. Found in lowland primary and secondary rainforest, it has long pendulous white inflorescence. The fruit ripens red, and is often densely covered with narrow thread-like appendages. The seed is surrounded with an edible white fleshy sarcostesta.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular
Maximum Height	40 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	0.8 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malesia.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree, up to 40 m tall, and sometimes with small buttresses. The trunk can reach up to 0.8 m wide. Twigs are usually densely hairy and rarely glabrous.
Foliage	Leaves are compound and arranged alternately. Each leaf comprises of (1-) 2 – 9 (-13) leaflets. Leaflets are leathery and narrowly elliptic shaped (6 – 25 cm long and 1.75 – 12.5 cm wide). The base of the leaflet is narrow to broadly rounded while leaflet tip is pointed, up to 2.5 cm long or sometimes obtuse. Petiole is hairy and 2.5 – 21 cm long. Domatia is absent.
Flowers	Inflorescence occur as long pendulous spikes on the axillary and/or pseudoterminal position, as well as on the trunk (cauliflorous). The inflorescence is 10 – 25 cm long and comprises of many small white flowers.

Fruit	The fruit is ellipsoid to globular (2 – 4 cm long and 2 – 3 cm wide), red coloured and often densely covered with narrow thread-like or strap-shaped appendages. The appendages may sometimes be straight or curved. Fruit may sometimes be glabrous or slightly hairy at the tip of the appendages too.
Habitat	It is found in lowland primary and secondary rainforest, usually on ridges and slopes.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Taxonomy	Presently, six varieties of Nephium cuspidatum are recognized.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Genus epithet 'Nephelium', in Greek, means cloud. Latin cuspidatus refers to the gradual tapering of the leaflet apex.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The seed is surrounded with an edible white fleshy sarcostesta which is said to have a sourish taste. It is cultivated as a fruit tree in South east Asia. Timber & Products: The wood is low quality and is sometimes used for construction.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Compound
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net, Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Obtuse, Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Cauliflorous, Axillary, Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Saucer-shaped
Flower Size - Remarks	Flowers are small and inconspicuous.
Inflorescence Type	Spike, Raceme
Flowering Period	Once Yearly
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Leathery
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	Adema, F., Leenhouts, P.W. & van Welzen, P.C. (1994). Sapindaceae. In: Kalkman, C., Stevens, P.F., Kirkup, D.W., de Wilde, W.J.J.O. & Nooteboom, H.P. (eds) Flora Malesiana, ser.1, vol. 11, part. 3, pp. 419–768. Leiden: Rijksherbarium. Keng, H. (1990). The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

References

Adema, F., Leenhouts, P.W. & van Welzen, P.C. (1994). Sapindaceae. In: Kalkman, C., Stevens, P.F., Kirkup, D.W., de Wilde, W.J.J.O. & Nooteboom, H.P. (eds) Flora Malesiana, ser.1, vol. 11, part. 3, pp. 419–768. Leiden: Rijksherbarium.

Keng, H. (1990). The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore: Singapore University Press.

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Master ID	30174
Species ID	4483
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.