Rambutan Photos
Rambutan Varieties
Popular varieties in Malaya include ‘Chooi Ang’, ‘Peng Thing Bee’, ‘Ya Tow’, ‘Azimat’, and ‘Ayer Mas’. These are the six (6) named varieties in Indonesia:
- Lebakbooloos – a broad-topped tree with dark-red fruits having uncrowded spines 3/5 in (1.5 cm) long, and grayish-white, tough, subacid flesh 1/5 in (0.5 cm) thick, frequently difficult to separate from the seed and often takes pieces of the testa with it. Ships well over long distances. (Cultivated also in India).
- Seematjan – Tree has an open crown and long, flexible branches. Fruits are dark-red with spines to 3/4 in (2 cm) long. In Java the tree is especially prone to attack by various insects. It is cultivated also in India and in the Philippines where it has averaged 16 lbs/acre (16 kg/ha). There are 2 forms: 1) ‘Seematjan besar’ with small fruit, thin rind, spines fairly far apart; very sweet, somewhat coarse, fairly juicy flesh to which the coarse, fibrous testa tightly adheres; 2) ‘Seematjan ketjil’ (or ‘Koombang’) – the fruit has soft, tough, and less sweet flesh to which the seed coat does not tightly adhere.
- Seenjonja – Tree low-growing; has a drooping crown. Fruit nearly ovoid, about 1 1/2 in (4 cm) long and 1 1/5 in (3 cm) wide; dark wine-red with slender, flexible spines about 2/5 in (1 cm) long. Flesh clings firmly to the seed. In the Philippines has yielded on the average 41 lbs/acre (41 kg/ha).
- Sectangkooweh – Tree broad-topped. Fruit flattened ellipsoid, about 2 in (5 cm) long, 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide with slim spines 2/5 in (1 cm) long. Rind is thin, pliable, tough. Flesh yellowish-white, sweet, clings tightly to the thick testa which separates from the seed. Fruits stand long-distance shipment.
- Seelengkeng – Tree low-growing with drooping crown. Fruit ovoid, 1 1/5 in (3 cm) long, 3/4 in (2 cm) wide, with very fine, soft spines. Flesh slightly glossy, tough, moderately sweet, and separates from the seed with a few particles of testa clinging to it. Air-layers are unsatisfactory, so it is rare in cultivation and expensive on the market. Much favored by Chinese because of its resemblance to the lychee.
- Seekonto – Tree has broad crown; is fast-growing. Fruits ellipsoid, faintly flattened, about 2 in (5 cm) long, 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide. Spines are thick and short. Flesh is dull, grayish-white, somewhat coarse and dry; clings to the testa which separates readily from the seed.
- Maharlika (no description available) has yielded 21 lbs/ acre (21 kg/ha) in the Philippines.