Sapindus saponaria Lam. (Chinese soap berry)

Family sapindaceae

A large deciduous tree, the Sapindus saponaria Lam. (Chinese soap berry) has even-pinnate leaves and four to eleven pairs of leaflets, oblong or nearly lanceolate, and skew bases. Its panicles are terminal or axillary. Of the same family with the longan tree, even their exteriors, fruit, and seeds are very much alike. Pulps containing saponin, when rubbed, bulbs come out from them, a natural detergent. At our grandmother’s time, they were used to sampoo and do the laundry. They regain their attention in this environmental protection era. Thus, the cleansing function of the Chinese soap berry is widely exploitated again. After all, nature is good.

　　Source of Pictures: Self-shot Pictures