lychee (redirected from litchee)

litchi

 or lichee or lychee

Fruit of the tree Litchi chinensis (family Sapindaceae), believed to be native to southern China and adjacent regions but now also cultivated elsewhere. It has been a favourite fruit of the Cantonese since ancient times and is a popular dessert in U.S. Chinese restaurants. The fresh pulp tastes musky; when dried, it is acidic and very sweet. The handsome tree develops a compact crown of foliage, with compound leaves that are bright green year-round. Clusters of small, inconspicuous flowers form small, oval red fruits.

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litchi, lichee, lichi, lychee

1. a Chinese sapindaceous tree, Litchi chinensis, cultivated for its round edible fruits

2. the fruit of this tree, which has a whitish juicy edible aril

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lychee [′lī‚chē]

(botany)

A tree of the genusLitchiin the family Sapindaceae, especiallyL. chinensiswhich is cultivated for its edible fruit, a one-seeded berry distinguished by the thin, leathery, rough pericarp that is red in most varieties. Also spelled litchi.