Garcinia spicata

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 10 m tall. It is a wide spreading tree. The leaves are deep green. The leaves are large and broadly oval. They are 20 cm long. New leaves are coppery pink. The flowers do not have stalks. They are white and waxy and grow on the stems and twigs. The fruit are round and dark green. They turn orange to yellow when ripe. They are 2.5 cm across.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It needs a warm humid location. It can tolerate salt spray. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. In Rockhampton Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India, Northeastern India, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit is edible but not very attractive.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It is slow growing.

In NE India plants flower and fruit May to February. In southern India fruit are available March to May

Its other names

Local names

Dieng-soh-kwang, Haldi, Jangli-ramphal, Kokattai, Manja nangu, Manjananku, Pidatha, Tavir

Synonyms

Garcinia ovalifolia (Roxb.) Hook.f. ex T. Anderson; [Invalid] Stalagmites cambogioides Murray; Xanthochymus ovalifolius Bedd.; Xanthochymus spicatus Wight & Arn.;