BOTANY OF FOUR IMPORTANT PAPJNDACEOU6 FIIUITS 43 



Two FRUITS OF THE RAM BUT AN GROUP 



The two fruits of the rambutan group are distinct from the 

 two of the lychee group in that they are tropical instead of subtropical 

 forms and that the arillus is adherent instead of free from the seed. 

 Chinese living in the Straits Settlements report that these two tropical 

 fruits consist of many varieties but that none are so delicious as the 

 lychee. Their chief criticism of these fruits is that the aril adheres 

 more tightly to the seed and that there is a large quantity of ray; 

 which cannot be swallowed. 



Botanical descriptions of the rambulan, Ncplteliitm lap- 

 pactiun Linn., and the pulasian, Ncphclium mittabile Blume, are 

 not attempted here. W. P. Hiern l in Hooker's Flora of British 

 India gives complete botanical descriptions. Bertha Hoola van 

 Nooten 2 has pictured the fruit, flowers and leaves of the rambutan 

 on a full page plate. The rambutan is pictured with long, hairy 

 setae. The pulassan is said to have strong, rigid setae. This fact is 

 interesting in view of the rudimentary marks of setae on the lychee 

 and the complete absence in the lungan. 



1 Hiern, W. P., in Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton, The Flora of British 

 India, assisted by various botanists. London, L. Reeve & Co., 1875, 7 

 volumes. Vol. 1, pages 687 and 688. 



2 Nooten, Madam Berthe Hoola Van, Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis 

 de la flore et de la pomone de Tile de Java; peints d'apres nature par 

 Madame Berthe Hoola van Nooten. Bruxelles, E. Tarlier, 1863. Issued 

 in 10 parts in French and English. 



