Editing Litchi chinensis

'''Lychee''' ('''''Litchi chinensis'''''; also known as lychee) is a Sapindaceae fruit plant grown for its fruit. The accepted scientific name is used as the canonical page title.

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 400px; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:Lychee Fruit.jpg|thumb|center|250px|Litchi chinensis fruit, flower, or plant habit. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Lychee (''Litchi chinensis'')
|-
! Scientific name
|| ''Litchi chinensis''
|-
! Genus
|| [[Litchi]]
|-
! Family
|| [[Sapindaceae]]
|-
! Order
|| [[Sapindales]]
|-
! Growth and size
|| Evergreen tree; 8–20 m
|-
! Climate and site
|| Acidic to neutral, well-drained soil; humid summers and a cooler dry winter
|-
! Propagation
|| Fresh seed 2–4 weeks; air-layering or grafting for named cultivars
|-
! Fruit and harvest
|| Usually late spring or summer; rough red fruit with fragrant aril
|}

== Identification and description ==
Lychee is a long-lived evergreen tree whose rough red fruit encloses a fragrant translucent aril. Flowering is strongly influenced by cool, relatively dry weather before spring warmth.

The accepted genus, family, and order are [[Litchi]], [[Sapindaceae]], and [[Sapindales]].

== Growing ==
Lychee comes from subtropical monsoon regions of southern China and nearby areas. Mature trees need warmth for growth but often require a cooler, relatively dry pre-bloom period; roots need drainage and mulch should not touch the trunk.

Acidic to neutral, well-drained soil; humid summers and a cooler dry winter. Provide airflow and avoid standing water unless the species is being grown in a deliberately wet habitat.

=== Soil ===
Acidic to neutral, well-drained soil; humid summers and a cooler dry winter; preserve native drainage and organic-matter conditions rather than treating all tropical fruit trees alike.

=== Sun and humidity ===
Most plants in this group prefer bright light; young trees may need shelter while roots establish. Humidity should be paired with airflow, not stagnant enclosure.

=== Seasonal changes ===
Flowering and harvest vary with local wet/dry or cool/warm cycles. Adjust irrigation to the species' native rhythm and protect warm-tropical plants during cool weather.

== Propagation ==
Fresh seed 2–4 weeks; air-layering or grafting for named cultivars. Seedlings may vary in fruit quality and maturity; use grafting or other clonal methods when a named selection must be preserved.

[[File:Lychee fruits and seed.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Field view or fruit detail of Litchi chinensis. Wikimedia Commons file page.]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
Usually late spring or summer; rough red fruit with fragrant aril. Local climate, cultivar, rootstock, pollination, and rainfall can shift the calendar substantially.

== Fruit and uses ==
The ripe fruit is eaten fresh and may be used in drinks, preserves, desserts, or regional savory preparations. Handle ripe fruit carefully because many tropical fruits soften rapidly after harvest.


== Commentary ==
Growers are welcome to share observations on the [[Talk:Litchi chinensis|talk page]], including climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering, fruiting, and growing conditions.


== Photos ==

The images above show documented fruit, flower, or plant-habit views. See the individual Commons file pages in the image credits for authorship and license details.

== Sources ==
* [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Litchi+chinensis Useful Tropical Plants: Litchi chinensis]



== Image credits ==

* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lychee_Fruit.jpg Lychee Fruit.jpg] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.
* [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lychee_fruits_and_seed.jpg Lychee fruits and seed.jpg] — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Sapindaceae]]
[[Category:Litchi]]