Gamboge, Himalayan garcinia
Garcinia xanthochymus

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 8-15 m tall. The trunk is short and straight. The trunk is 40-50 cm thick. The crown is dense and shaped like a pyramid. The bark is grey-brown. The latex is white and sticky. The branches and leaves often droop. The twigs are angular. The leaves are large. They are 12-24 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. They are shiny above and rough underneath. They are pale green when young. The leaf stalk is 1-2.5 cm long. The male and female flowers are separate. The flowers occur in tufts of 4-10. These are white and about 1 cm across. The fruit is a golden yellow berry. They are 6-9 cm across. The skin is smooth and pale orange to dark yellow. The pulp is yellow, juicy and acidic. It usually contains 1-5 seeds. These are brown and 2.5 cm long.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands. It grows in dense humid forests of valleys or on hills; (100-(600)-1000(-1400) m altitude in China. It grows in seasonal rainforest and monsoonal rainforest. It suits humid locations. The tree will grow in cooler regions but fruit are not produced. It can tolerate shade and grow in poor soils including a high pH. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Cook Islands, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit can be eaten raw. They are acidic and are often cooked with other vegetables. The fruit can be used for making jams, curries, and vinegar. It can be used as a substitute for tamarind in cooking. The fruit can be eaten roasted or boiling.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are normally grown from seed. They can also be grown by grafting.

Fruit are produced after 7-8 years. Fruit matures in 120-150 days. In NE India fruit are available May to July. In southern India February to May.

Its other names

Local names

Asam gelugur, Asam kandis, Chakhasa, Chiuri, Cochin-goraka, Da ye teng huang, Dampal, Daungyan, Dawyan-ban, Dem-gola, Dephal, Demphal, Dharamba, Dieng-soh-rynsan, Dongbei, False mangosteen, Gavei, Guomanda, Heirangkhoi, Hmandaw, Hong Phap, Jevra memadie, Jharamb, Jhrambi, Mada-luang, Mada, Madaw, Mysore gamboge, Ota, Pinar, Pohon manggis asam, Sitambu, Suagke, Tamal, Tamala, Tempwr, Tepor tenga, Thesampreng, Tinctoria, Tuai-ha-bet, Yellow mangosteen

Synonyms

Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) Engl.; Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) W. Wight; Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) Dunn; Stalagmitis pictoria G. Don; Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb.; Xanthochymus tinctorius DC.;