It is in the same genus as the rambutan and also closely related to several other tropical fruits including the lychee, longan, and guinep.

The plant is native to Southeast Asia and lives wild in the jungles of the region, although it is also cultivated in some countries such as Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar.

[4] Nephelium hypoleucum flowers from the months of December to March with fruit setting from February to June.

[3] Nephelium hypoleucum will only grow in fertile sandy soil at high altitudes of up to 1200 meters (about 3937 ft), This species is mainly found in rainforests as well as savannah in a hilly country.

[6] Unlike the other similar fruits in this family, the korlan is picked by the locals to be sold in small quantities due to it not being cultivated.

Korlan is believed to have medicinal qualities such as reducing stress, regulating blood sugar, helping with digestion, and increasing resistance to the flu, viruses, colds and herpes,[6] although these claims have not been evaluated by medical studies.