Nephelium papillatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nephelium papillatum |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Nephelium |
| Species: |
N. papillatum
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| Binomial name | |
| Nephelium papillatum Leenh.
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Nephelium papillatum is a special kind of flowering plant. It is a tropical forest fruit tree that belongs to the rambutan family. This tree is endemic to Borneo, meaning it grows naturally only in that area.
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About the Nephelium papillatum Tree
This tree can grow very tall, reaching up to 36 meters (about 118 feet) in height. Its main trunk, called a bole, can be 5 meters (about 16 feet) tall. It also has wide, flat roots called buttresses that spread out 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) from the base of the trunk.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Nephelium papillatum are made of smaller leaflets. These leaflets are arranged like a feather, which is called pinnate. Each leaf usually has 2 to 3 pairs of oval-shaped smaller leaves. These leaflets are about 4.5 to 10.5 centimeters (1.8 to 4.1 inches) long and 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters (1 to 1.8 inches) wide.
The flowers grow in clusters called inflorescences. These clusters look like branching bunches, known as panicles. The small flowers themselves are white to cream in color.
Fruits of the Tree
The fruits of the Nephelium papillatum tree are dark red. They are about 2.25 centimeters (0.9 inches) long and 1.25 to 1.75 centimeters (0.5 to 0.7 inches) wide. The outside of the fruit is covered with soft, tiny spikes, which are about 2 millimeters long. Inside the fruit, the seed is covered with a white, edible fleshy part. This tasty part is called a sarcotesta.
Where Nephelium papillatum Grows
You can find this tree in the Malaysian state of Sabah, which is in northern Borneo. It grows in mixed hill forests and lower montane forests. These forests are often rich in trees like oaks and chestnuts. The Nephelium papillatum tree prefers to grow at elevations between 600 and 1,300 meters (about 1,970 to 4,265 feet) above sea level.
How People Use This Fruit
The Nephelium papillatum tree is not usually grown on farms. Instead, people mainly collect its fruits directly from the forest. Sometimes, you might find these trees growing near villages. This happens when seeds from discarded fruits sprout and grow into new trees.
