Seashore mangosteen, Celebes mangosteen tree, Kiras tree
Garcinia celebica

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 9-18 m tall. It can grow 35 m tall. The stems have white or yellow latex. The leaves are opposite and simple. The leaves are narrowly oval and 15 cm long by 8 cm wide. The flowers are of separate sexes. They are red outside and yellow inside. The flowers are 22 mm across. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round berry. It is 5 cm across. It is green when young and becomes yellow or red when ripe. There are several seeds. The seeds have a fleshy layer or aril around them.

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on sandy and rocky coasts. It grows in forests up to 1,400 m above sea level. It can be on limestone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, India (Nicobar), Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sarawak, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The dried crimson coloured rind is used as a relish in curries. The pulp can be fermented into vinegar. The fruit are eaten raw or used in preserves.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Assam aur aur, Beruas, Bruas, Kalawet, Kandis, Luli, Manggis, Manggis hutan, Manggus hutan, Minjok, Perda-perda, Pohon manggis sulawesi, Proos, Sungkep, Tebar, Waa, Yamurgan

Synonyms

Garcinia broewas Boerl.; Garcinia hombroniana Pierre; Garcinia mangostana Pierre; Garcinia sintang Boerl.; and several others