Dimocarpus longan - Longan

Description and Uses

Dimocarpus longan (Longan) is a tropical tree from South East Asia . It is mainly grown for its fruit crops , which have a medium shelf life. The crop is harvested by hand picking. It starts flowering after 6 - 8 years. The yield will be 50 kg/tree, but in its top season there will be a yield of 225 kg/tree. Other crop types include; timber, fuel, ornamental, fruit, alcohol, . The fruit is used as delicacy . The fresh leaf is used as " anti-cancer, " with beta-Stosterol (? - ?) as its significant phytochemical. There is longan oil extracted by no extraction method from the tree's {missing data} yielding ? - ? oil. The tree's wood is called Longan wood and has a density of 0 - 0 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the tree's growing speed is medium, it's energetic value is 3800 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is slow. After 40 years the tree can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Dimocarpus longan has a lifespan of 50 years.

Environmental limitations

The tree is 12 meters tall with a crown of 7 meters wide. The tree prefers a planting distance of 1,200 cm and a row distance of 1,200 cm. It is fast growing and partial shade tolerant. Dimocarpus longan has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". The tree's flower-morphology is uni-sexual and is pollinated by bees. Dimocarpus longan is evergreen and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Dimocarpus longan thrives in an altitude of 150 to 450 meters above sea-level (tropical). The minimum temperature is -3°C; optimally between 14 - 20°C. The optimal rainfall is 0 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 0 - 0mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 7.0 in a soil texture of sand. To salt it is intolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Dimocarpus longan is susceptible to the following pests: . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: no disease , , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are recalcitrant and can be stored for 2 months. There are approximative 45400 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds in water or in the fruit at room temperature
• (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing.
• (3) press the seeds twice its size in the soil soil.