Editing Longan (section)

== Description ==

Depending upon climate and soil type the tree may grow to over {{Convert|100|ft|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crane |first1=Jonathan H. |last2=Balerdi |first2=Carlos F. |last3=Sargent |first3=Steven A. |last4=Maguire |first4=Ian |date=November 1978 |title=Longan Growing in the Florida Home Landscape |url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg049 |access-date=4 April 2017 |website=University of Florida |edition=2016}}</ref> in height, but it typically stands {{Convert|30|-|40|ft|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} in height and the [[Crown (botany)|crown]] is round.<ref name="Julia Morton" /><ref name="Crane Balerdi">{{cite web |last1=Crane |first1=Jonathan |last2=Balerdi |first2=Carlos |last3=Sarge |first3=Steven |last4=Maguire |first4=Ian |date=2015 |title=Longan Growing in the Florida Home Landscape |url=http://www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg049 |access-date=5 April 2017 |website=IFAS University of Florida}}</ref> The trunk is {{Convert|80|cm|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}} thick<ref name="Julia Morton" /> with corky [[bark (botany)|bark]].<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> The branches are long and thick, typically drooping.<ref name="Julia Morton" />

The [[leaves]] are oblong and blunt-tipped, usually {{Convert|4|-|8|in|cm|0|order=flip}} long and {{Convert|2|in|cm|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} wide.<ref name="Julia Morton" /> The leaves are [[pinnately]] compounded and alternate.<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> There are 6 to 9 pairs of leaflets per leaf<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> and the upper surface is wavy and a dark, glossy-green.<ref name="Julia Morton" />

The longan tree produces light-yellow [[inflorescence]]s at the end of branches.<ref name="Julia Morton" /> The inflorescence is commonly called a [[panicle]]; they can be {{Convert|4|-|18|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} long, and widely branched.<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> The small [[flower]]s have 5 to 6 [[sepal]]s and brownish-yellow [[petal]]s.<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> The flower has a two-lobed [[pistil]] and 8 [[stamen]]. There are three flower types, distributed throughout the panicle;<ref name="Julia Morton" /> staminate (functionally male), pistillate (functionally female), and [[Hermaphrodite|hermaphroditic]] flowers.<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> Flowering occurs as a progression.<ref name="Crane Balerdi" />

The fruit are spherical and about {{Convert|1|in|cm|1|abbr=on|order=flip}} wide; they hang in drooping clusters. The shell is tan, thin, and leathery with tiny hairs;<ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> when firm, it can be squeezed (as in the cracking of a [[sunflower seed]]) to shell the fruit.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} The flesh is translucent, and the [[seed]] is large and black with a circular white spot at the base.<ref name="Julia Morton" /><ref name="Crane Balerdi" /> This gives the illusion of an eye.<ref name="Julia Morton" /> The flesh has a musky, sweet taste, which can be compared to the flavor of [[lychee]] fruit.<ref name="Julia Morton" /> The seed is round, hard, and has a lacquered appearance.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The longan tree is somewhat sensitive to [[frost]]. While the species prefers temperatures that do not typically fall below {{Convert|4.5|C|F|-1}}, it can withstand brief temperature drops to about {{Convert|-2|C|F}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Herbst |first=S. & R. |title=The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |year=2009 |via=Credo Reference}}</ref> Longan trees prefer sandy soil with mild levels of acidity and [[Soil#Soil organic matter|organic matter]].<ref name="Julia Morton" /> Longans usually bear fruit slightly later than lychees.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jiang |first1=Yueming |last2=Zhang |first2=Zhaoqi |date=November 2002 |title=Postharvest biology and handling of longan fruit (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) |journal=Postharvest Biology and Technology |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=241–252 |doi=10.1016/s0925-5214(02)00047-9}}</ref>

{{gallery|mode=packed
|Longan (Dimocarpus longan) Tree lower trunk.jpg|Lower trunk
|Longan (Dimocarpus longan) Tree leaves.jpg|Tree leaves
|Longan (Dimocarpus longan) baby fruits and leaves.jpg|Branch of baby fruits
|Dimocarpus_longan_fruits.jpg|Bunch of fruit
|Longan fruits and seed.jpg|Fruits with seed
|Longan Wiki1.webm|Longan being peeled and eaten
}}