Pometia pinnata
| Pometia pinnata | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific name | Pometia pinnata |
| Common names | Fijian longan |
| Genus | Pometia |
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Order | Sapindales |
| Fruit type | Drupe |
| Growth form | Large, fast-growing evergreen tree |
| Native range | India and Malesia eastward to the Pacific islands; the checked secondary account gives a broad eastern-Asia-to-Pacific range |
| Mature size | Up to about 40 m in the checked tree account; site-dependent |
| Years to fruit | N/A — no dependable species-appropriate first-fruiting value located |
Pometia pinnata is the accepted scientific-name entry for Fijian longan. The article keeps species facts, cultivar or form-level claims, and unresolved evidence limits separate.
Description
Pometia pinnata is a large evergreen tree in the Sapindaceae, grown locally in parts of its Pacific and Malesian range for the edible fruit commonly called Fijian longan. A secondary species account notes that synonymy with Allophylus cobbe has been proposed; the article keeps that taxonomic qualification visible rather than silently resolving it. [2] [3]
Distribution and habitat
The checked account places the species in lowland riverbanks, humid woodland, swampy forest, forest edges, open woodland, lava flows, and village plantings. It describes a humid lowland plant usually below 500 m, with occasional records to about 1,700 m and without a severe dry season. These habitat observations do not justify treating every plant as flood-tolerant. [3]
Cultivation
Soil and water
The source account reports deep, rich, moist soil and records the species on limestone, clayey, sandy, and loamy soils, with occasional freshwater-swamp sites. In cultivation, retain moisture while maintaining root aeration; a swamp occurrence is not a recommendation for stagnant container soil. [3]
Sun and humidity
Full sun or light shade is reported. Young trees in dry or exposed sites should be protected from rapid moisture loss, while established trees need adequate light for vigorous growth. The available sources describe humid atmospheric conditions but do not support a numeric humidity target.
Seasonal changes
The checked account describes a humid climate with roughly 1,500–5,000 mm annual rainfall and no severe dry season. A species-wide flowering calendar and dependable harvest season were not established. In cultivation, irrigation should be reduced only cautiously during any local dry period, and Years to fruit remains N/A.
Propagation
Seed propagation is documented; the source account also mentions softwood cuttings. Fresh seed handling, germination timing, and comparative cutting success were not sufficiently documented in the checked sources for more exact instructions. [3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest
The fruit is described as a semi-transparent white-fleshed, aromatic, juicy, sweet fruit said to resemble rambutan. The available evidence does not provide a reliable species-wide harvest calendar, fruiting age, or storage recommendation; those values remain N/A.
Fruit and uses
The fruit is eaten raw. The source account also describes the wood as useful for fuel and household materials, but the article focuses on the fruiting plant and does not infer commercial timber performance from that secondary account. [3]
Photos
References
[1] GBIF species match: Pometia pinnata. https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5577338 [2] Plants of the World Online search: Pometia pinnata. https://powo.science.kew.org/results?q=Pometia%20pinnata [3] Useful Tropical Plants: Pometia pinnata. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pometia+pinnata
Image credits
- Pometia pinnata 173719090.jpg — photo by 葉子; CC0. Commons file page.
- Pometia pinnata, flowering.jpg — photo by Tauʻolunga; CC BY-SA 3.0. Commons file page.
- Pometia pinnata 27342724.jpg — photo by Ong Jyh Seng; CC BY-SA 4.0. Commons file page.
