VARIETIES OF THE LYCHEE 99 



The leaves are very large, wide and quite pointed. Petioles 

 are short. The tree is an upright grower and twigs also tend upward. 

 It ripens very irregularly, some late and some early. The form is 

 rather elongated with a very roughened skin and bright red color. 

 The flesh is thin, the seed exceptionally large (fig. 54) and the juice 

 is sour. The flavor is said to depend upon the soil and cultural 

 methods and the Chinese believe that the character of this variety 

 can be quickly changed under cultivation. 



A number of so called varieties of lychee have originated from 

 the Shan chih (ditt), such as for example the Mi kuei (Mai kwai 

 *&), Chiahuai (Ka wai \ Ta niu ku (Tai ngau ku **ft), 

 Ta crTiao ch'un (Ma tseuk ch'un Jft$f$), Cheng pao hou (Ch'ang 

 pau hau J9M3MR), and Ting sz niu (Ting sz ngau 



One of the most interesting types of mountain lychee thus far 

 reported is that called Yeh shan chih (Ye shan chi SFUltt) or 

 "wild mountain lychee." This fruit has been reported as growing 

 in the West river region. A search has been made for the tree or 

 trees which are said to exist, but thus far without success. The 

 fruit is said to resemble the lychee, but with hairs instead of prickles. 

 The tree is very large and tall and the seed very light in color. 



In addition to the fifteen varieties described there are many 

 others of commercial importance or of purely local interest. The Ya 

 niang hsieh (A neung hai #&) is a promising new variety coming 

 from the Lo kang (Lo kong iS$3) region. It is said to rival the 

 No mi ts'z (No mai t'sztS&lfc^ but as yet has made little progress 

 on the Canton markets. The Pu tai (Po toi >ffrS) has also originated 

 from the same place as the Ya niang hsieh (ffitJlSl). The Chuang 

 yuan hung (Chong un hung Hft7t&) is quite popular and can be 

 purchased on the Canton markets (fig. 55). The Yu ho pao (Yuk 

 ho pao (Yuk ho pau :$?&) is a very common early variety appear- 

 ing immediately after the San yueh hung (Sam ut hung H8&V 

 Many claim that it is a type of Sam yueh hung (Hj|rj but the 

 evidence to hand leads us to think it is more of a distinct variety than 

 many of the other so-called varieties. 



An analytical descriptive table of some of these important 

 lychee varieties appears on the following pages. 



