Litchi
Litchi Litchi, also leechee and lichee, name applied to a small Asian tree (see Soapberry ). It is cultivated in China, India, and the Philippines. The oval fruit is a drupe, commonly called a litchi nut, about 2.5 cm (about 1 in) in diameter, with a thin, fragile, outer layer; a colorless, translucent, sweet pulp; and a large, smooth, hard seed. The pulp separates readily from the seed and is eaten fresh or dried; when dried, it is black in color. The dried fruit keeps for a long time and is the bulk of commercial litchi nuts. Scientific classification: The litchi belongs to the family Sapindaceae. It is classified as Litchi chinensis.