Litchi chinensis 荔枝

Lizhi, sold in P.R. China, Guangxi Yulin Tobacco Factory

荔枝(Litchi chinensis) 又名荔支、離枝、丹荔、麗枝、火山荔、勒荔、荔果，一種亞熱帶果樹，屬無患子目無患子科，是荔枝屬的唯一物種，台灣農民對於荔枝產期有著：｢三月紅→五月玉荷包(南部趕早)→六七月黑葉(中部大出)→八月糯米茲(北部拼晚)｣的口訣，正好是每種荔枝盛產時期與接續品種上市。

Lychee is the sole member of the genus Litchi in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae.It is a tropical tree native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of China, where cultivation is documented from 1059 AD. China is the main producer of lychees, followed by India, other countries in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and South Africa.
A tall evergreen tree, the lychee bears small fleshy fruits. The outside of the fruit is pink-red, roughly textured and inedible, covering sweet flesh eaten in many different dessert dishes. Since the perfume-like flavour is lost in the process of canning, the fruit is usually eaten fresh.