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Litchi chinensis Sonn.

Synonym	:	Litchi chinensis var. euspontanea H.H.Hsue
Family	:	Sapindaceae
Local name	:	English - Lychee, Lichee Malayalam - Litchi
Flowering and fruiting period	:	January-May
Distribution	:	Native of China
Distribution in Kerala	:	Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Wayanad, Kannur
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Endemic/Exotic	:	Exotic
IUCN status	:	Vulnerable
Uses	:	It is used in the treatment of cough, flatulence, stomach ulcers, diabetes, obesity, testicular swelling, hernia-like conditions, epigastric and neuralgic pains.
Key Botanical Characters:  Medium sized tree, 15 m high, branching nearly from base; bark grey; leaves alternate, pinnate, rachis 5-15 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, elliptic-oblong, acute to acuminate, base obtuse, cuneate, glabrous and shining above and glaucous beneath. Panicles terminal, up to 50 cm long. Flowers 0.3-0.5 cm across. Petals absent. Stamens 6-8, exserted; filaments slender. Drupe fleshy with a brown muricated rind turning red; seeds shining brown.