Granite garcinia
Garcinia huillensis

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-15 m tall. The branches are spreading, angular and grooved. The leaves are opposite and 5-11 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are broadly oval. They are dark green above and more pale underneath. They have a purple tinge when young. The flowering shoots are usually in the axils of the leaves but occasionally at the ends of branches. They are yellowish-green. Flowers can be male or female or have both sexes. The fruit is a berry 2-2.5 cm across. It is round and yellow or orange when ripe. There are 1-3 seeds. The seeds are curved and 10 mm long.

There are about 300 Garcinia species. This one is very similar to Garcinia buchananii.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in forests near rivers. In Malawi it grows between 600-1,750 m altitude. It grows in the savannah.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Kabobo, Kisima, M'veto, Mholoholo, Mlemandembo, Mpilipili, Mukukwe, Murugubali, Musongwa, Omuserere, Peta-peta, Pimbe

Synonyms

Garcinia gilletii De Wild.; Garcinia gossweileri Engl.; Garcinia henriquesii Engl.;