Mangosteen
Garcinia riparia
Family: Clusiaceae
What it is like
A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 4-8 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. When trees are damaged they produce a clear exudate. The leaves are 7-9 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and dark green. They are thick textured and the veins are prominent underneath the leaf. The tips of the leaves are drawn out to a fine point. The flower cluster is produced in the axils of leaves and these occur as dense clusters. The flowers are about 0.6 cm across and white. The fruit are 2.5 cm across and yellowish. There are 1-5 seeds inside.
There are about 300 Garcinia species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It occurs in rainforests. It grows near rivers. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 100 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed which should be sown fresh.
In Australia, the fruit are mature in December to January. Flowering occurs in July.