Nephelium lappaceum L., Mant. Pl. 1 (1767)
Latin for 'bur'.

Synonyms
Euphoria glabra Blume, Euphoria nephelium DC, Euphoria nephelium Poir., Euphoria ramb-outan Labill., Litchi ramboutan Labill., Nephelium chryseum Blume, Nephelium glabrum Cambess., Nephelium glabrum var. sufferrugineum (Radlk.) Ridl. Nephelium glabrum Norona, Nephelium glabrum Reinw. ex Blume, Nephelium lappaceum var. glabrum Blume, Nephelium maculatum Radlk., Nephelium mutabile var. pallens Hiern, Nephelium obovatum Ridl., Nephelium pallens (Hiern) Radlk., Nephelium rambutan Schnizl., Nephelium sufferrugineum Radlk., Nephelium xanthoides Radlk.

Description
Mid-canopy tree up to 32 m tall and 84 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate, compound, leaflets penni-veined, glabrous. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, white-yellow, placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 38 mm long, yellow-red, soft spiny drupes.

Ecology
In undisturbed to slightly disturbed (open sites) mixed dipterocarp, swamp and sub-montane forests up to 1200 m altitude. Usually on alluvial sites and hillsides with clay to sandy soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant, or planted.

Uses
Important ornamental and fruit tree. The wood is used for general construction. Most parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes and to dye silk. The tree is cultivated for its fruits, which are sold world wide (rambutan). The seed is used to extract oil and can also be eaten when roasted.

Distribution
Southern China, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (throughout the island), Philippines, Celebes.

Local names in Borneo
Buah beletti, Maritam, Rambutan, Rambutan hutan, Rangalau.