Indian gamboge tree
Garcinia morella

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It keeps its leaves during the year. The bark is dark grey. The leaves are narrowly oval and 15 cm long by 7 cm wide. They are wedge shaped or rounded at the base. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers occur as 1-3 on old wood and female flowers are in the axils of leaves. The fruit are about 5 cm across. The fruit are yellow when ripe. There are 4 seeds.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest. It grows between 5-2,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Central America, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds yield a fat used in cooking and for confectionary. The fruit are eaten as a dessert. They are acidic. The fruit can be preserved by slicing and sun drying. The fruit can also be used for pickles. The unripe fruit can be cooked as a vegetable. The fruit can be boiled to make chutney. The gum resin can be used in food.

Edible parts

Fruit-spice, seeds-oil

How it is grown

In southern India plants fruit in March to April.

Its other names

Local names

Chigiri, Daramba, Devanabuli, Gokatu, Hardala, Jaarige puli, Jarize, Kakukkampuli, Kudi tekera, Kuji-thekera, Makki, Pasupuvarne, Pinnarpuli, Revalchinni, Solaippuli, Tamal, Tamala, Thaika, Undhui thaikha

Synonyms

Cambogia gutta L.; Garcinia cambogioides (Murray) Royle; Garcinia gutta Wight; Hebradendron cambogioides Graham; Mangostana morella Gaertner;