Litchi

Litchi, or lichee, evergreen Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) grown in warm climates, a member of the soapberry family. Prized for its juicy fruit, the litchi has been cultivated in southern China for over 2,000 years. The round fruit ranges from 1/2 to 1 1/2 in (1.3 to 3.8 cm) in diameter and has a rough, brittle skin and white flesh with a single large brown seed inside. Rich in vitamin C, the fruit is eaten fresh or canned in a syrup. When dried, it is called litchi nut.