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The Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) and the Pulasan (Nephelium ramboutan-ake) are very closely related. The only constant morphological difference between them is in the fruit appendages. In Nephelium lappaceum, the basal part of fruit appendage is small and inconspicuous and the upper part is thread-like and long; in Nephelium rambutan-ake, on the other hand, the basal part of fruit appendage is relatively large, triangular to ovoid, and tapering towards the short and broad, often thick and stiff apical part[].

Common Name: Pulasan

General Information

Pulasan is an evergreen tree that is usually less than 10 metres tall, though it sometimes reaches up to 20 metres, with some specimens recorded up to 40 metres. The bole of larger specimens can be up to 80cm in diameter with buttresses up to 240cm high[, ].
Closely related to the rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)[], this species is commonly cultivated in the tropics for its edible fruit, especially in China, Malaysia and Indonesia where it is considered to be one of the best tropical fruits[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - northeast India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Primary mixed dipterocarp or sometimes secondary forest; growing on flat lands, slopes, riverbanks, rarely in swamps; usually on clay, loam, more rarely on rocky soil, particularly shale, basalt, or limestone; from sea level to 1,950 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Pulasan grows best in the lowland humid tropics at an elevation below 600 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 32°c, but can tolerate 18 - 38°c[]. The plant cannot tolerate frost. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 1,350 - 4,100mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating some shade[]. Prefers a sand or clay soil[]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.8, tolerating 4.3 - 8[].
There are some named varieties[, ]. Some of the varieties bear parthenocarpic fruit[].
Trees are usually dioecious[], but some cultivars are females that also produce a few male flowers (up to 0.5%) and, with adequate bees and other pollinators present, these are sufficient for fertilization to occur[, ].
Being overshadowed by good rambutan cultivars, this species has little prospect of being develop for commercial cultivation[]. However, it is a good potential genetic source in breeding programmes with the rambutan[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The delicious white flesh of the fruit is less juicy than the rambutan (N. lappaceum), is sweeter and has a less sprightly taste[]. Much eaten out of hand, it can also be used in jams and compotes[]. The fruit ranges in size from 40 to 70 mm long and 40 to 60 mm in diameter[].

Seed - roasted[]. The seed is roasted and used in the preparation of a cocoa-like beverage[].

An oil is obtained from the seed[]. Used in cooking[].

Medicinal

The roots are used to treat fever[].

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the seeds is used in lamps[].

The wood is hard[]. It is used in construction[]. A useful timber, but rarely used because the fruit is too valuable to merit the tree being felled[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so needs to be sown as soon as it is extracted from the fruit[]. Wash the seed first to remove traces of the fruit[]. Sow the seed in containers or in a nursery seedbed in light shade - germination should take place in 7 - 20 days[]. Properly cared for, the seedlings grow rapidly[]. They quickly produce a large root system and so need to be planted out into their permanent positions when still young[].
Layering.
Grafting.

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