What does a longan tree look like? A detailed introduction to its appearance and characteristics

Longan, also known as guiyuan, is one of the common fruits found in major supermarkets and fruit shops. Compared with the longan fruit, its tree is not well understood. So what does a longan tree look like? How does it reproduce?

1. What does a longan tree look like?

The longan tree is an evergreen tree with a tall trunk. It mostly has even-pinnately compound leaves, with leaflets opposite or alternate; panicles terminal or axillary; the fruit is spherical, and the seed is black and glossy. The flowering period is March to April, and the fruiting period is July to August.

2. How does the longan tree reproduce?

The propagation methods of the longan tree include seedling propagation, layering propagation and grafting propagation. In addition, a longan grown from seed can bear fruit, but compared with a grafted seedling, a seedling grown from seed delays fruiting by three to four years, and the quality is not necessarily excellent. At the same time, because seed propagation has great variation and enters the fruiting period relatively late, seedling-grown plants are generally not used in production and cultivation; grafted seedlings are mostly used. However, most people probably grow longan trees for fun, so you can still sow longan seeds, and they will likewise be able to bear fruit. When grafting longan, pay attention to the following points:

1. Time

Longan is suitable for grafting on sunny days with stable temperatures. Mid-March to mid-April is the best period, with a survival rate of over 90%. In autumn, temperatures are high and the grafting survival rate is not high.

2. Preparation

Choose good rootstock and strong scions. Select one- to two-year-old summer or autumn shoots that are free of pests and diseases and have plump axillary buds as scions. Collect and graft them immediately; if they cannot all be grafted on the same day, wrap them with a wet cloth and store them in sand to keep them fresh.

3. Method

Generally, double-bud cut grafting is used, which gives a high survival rate and relatively concentrated nutrients. The method is to cut the grafting surface into a double bud with one long side and one short side, align it with the cambium and insert it, then wrap the scion with special grafting film, fully sealed, leaving no bud eyes, to reduce water evaporation and thereby increase the survival rate. Note that you should cut and graft immediately, and cut and insert immediately, to prevent the wound from drying out and affecting the survival rate.

4. Management

After the graft survives, when the shoot grows to 30-40cm, pinch off the growing tip to promote maturity and branching. At the same time, thin out overly dense shoots to help form a round-headed canopy. Also spray it with pesticide for pest and disease control.