Rambutan

species of plant, rambutan

A rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is a tree from southeast Asia. The fruit that grows on the tree is also called rambutan. It is in the same family as Lychee.

Rambutan
Unpeeled and peeled rambutan
A bundle of fuzzy red fruits on woody stems
Rambutan fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Nephelium
Species:
N. lappaceum
Binomial name
Nephelium lappaceum

The name rambutan is a word that means "hairy". The fruit does look hairy. The fruit is green in color when not yet ripe. Once ripe the outside of the fruit turns red. The flesh on the inside of the rambutan is white in color.

Rambutan is native to Indonesia. Rambutan trees grow naturally in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and elsewhere in Southeast Asia .[3] Other than those countries, Sri Lanka is also popular for rambutan.

The fruit are usually sold fresh, used in making jams and jellies, or canned.

two unpeeled fruits with red spiky skin and one peeled fruit with white inside
Peeled rambutan
Rambutan, canned, syrup pack
Nutritional value per serving
Serving size 100 g
Energy 343 kJ (82 kcal)
Carbohydrates 20.87
- Dietary fiber 0.9
Fat 0.21
Protein 0.65
Water 78.04 g
Vitamin A equiv. 0 μg (0%)
Vitamin A 3 IU
- beta-carotene 2 μg (0%)
Thiamine (Vit. B1) 0.013 mg (1%)
Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.022 mg (1%)
Niacin (Vit. B3) 1.352 mg (9%)
Pantothenic acid (B5) 0.018 mg (0%)
Vitamin B6 0.020 mg (2%)
Folate (Vit. B9) 8 μg (2%)
Vitamin B12 0.00 μg (0%)
Vitamin C 4.9 mg (8%)
Calcium 22 mg (2%)
Iron 0.35 mg (3%)
Magnesium 7 mg (2%)
Manganese 0.343 mg (17%)
Phosphorus 9 mg (1%)
Potassium 42 mg (1%)
Sodium 10.9 mg (0%)
Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient database

References change

  1. Barstow, M. (2017). "Nephelium lappaceum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T33266A67808476. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. "Nephelium lappaceum". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. "The Rambutan Information Website". Panoramic Fruit Farm, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 25 June 2011.