Garcinia dioica

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-25 m tall. The trunk is black. The branches are almost in rings. The leaves are opposite and have short stalks. They are sword shaped. They are dark green and shiny above and yellowish green underneath. The flowers are pale yellow. They can be of separate sexes or of both sexes. The fruit is a flattened round shape. It has the sunken remains of the flower on top. They are orange when ripe. They can be 4 cm across. There are 5-8 seeds.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Java it grows in the lowlands and up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The sour young leaves are eaten raw. The fruit are eaten when ripe. They have a sour taste.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kemendjing, Kicheri, Walung

Synonyms

Garcinia cladostigma Pierre; Garcinia trechostigma Pierre;