Garcinia atroviridis

Large rainforest tree with large leaves. The flowers are dark red.

Ripe Asam fruit is bright-yellow orange and tastes very sour therefore it cannot be eaten fresh. Instead the fruit is sliced, dried then stewed and used as a common ingredient in Asian dishes such as curries and soups. Asam fruit, when encapsulated, can be taken two times a day prior to meals as a natural appetite suppressant.

Garcinia gummi-gutta, Garcinia cambogia

Garcinia gummi-gutta is a tropical species of Garcinia native to Indonesia. The fruit is used in cooking, including in the preparation of curries.

The fruit contains a biologically active compound which is known to inhibit the synthesis of lipids and fatty acids and lower the formation of LDL and triglycerides. This has made Garcinia a very effective herbal medicine for controlling obesity and cholesterol. It is a well established fat burning agent all over the world and is currently becoming a rage in America, Japan, Europe and many other western nations. It is recommended as a dieting aid supported by exercise and a balanced nutritional diet.

The fruit is used in many traditional recipes, and various species of Garcinia are used similarly in food preparation in Assam (India), Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, and other Southeast Asian countries. In the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, sour flavors are said to activate digestion. The extract and rind of G. gummi-gutta is a curry condiment in India. It is an essential souring ingredient in the southern Thai variant of kaeng som, a sour curry.

G. gummi-gutta is used commercially in fish curing, especially in Sri Lanka and South India. The trees can be found in forested areas and also are protected in plantations otherwise given over to pepper, spice, and coffee production.

Garcinia hombroniana

Naturally grows near seashores, so it likely salt and sand tolerant. Flowers are whitish, and occur terminally in clusters of 1-3. Trees are dioecious. Seashore mangosteen is propagated by seeds, which germinate in 3-4 weeks. It may be used as a rootstock for mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana - mangosteen grafting). It is very tolerant adverse soil and climatic conditions, being adapted to growing in sandy and rocky soils near the beach in its native habitat. It also grows well in acid clay soils, and tolerates drought as well as high rainfall.

Trees are dioecious. The fruit is smooth, spherical and beaked, with a pinkish red peel. The interior is segmented, like the mangosteen, but the pulp is yellowish, thin and sour, although it has a good flavor. Most segments contain one flat seed. The roots and leaves are used medicinally to relieve itching.

Garcinia livingstonei

An evergreen small tree with interesting branching pattern, with three lateral branches being produced at right angles to the trunk at each node, oddly shaped growth habit makes it valuable more for a landscape curiosity than just for its fruit. The male flowers are showy and sweet-smelling. The fruits are produced in profusion and are edible, having a refreshing acid-sweet flesh. However, the sticky latex can be irritating. In Mozambique the fruit is used to prepare a pleasant alcoholic beverage. Extracts of the leaves and flowers have tested positive for antibiotic properties. It is drought-resistant, and can tolerate light frost for a short period of time.

Garcinia mangostana

Cultivated in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. This delicious fruit has a thick, dark-red skin, inside which are creamy white segments with a sweet, slightly tart flavor. Purported by many who have had the luxury of tasting it as being the best tasting fruit in the world. While possibly a bit extreme, the mangosteen is instantly liked by many who eat it. The medical problems this product apparently solves are remarkable. Diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflux, anti-inflammatory agent, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, antidepressant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant and even some forms of cancer cell growth inhibition are just to name a few. The tree is an attractive columnar or pyramidal slow growing evergreen, which attain a height of 30 to 40 feet. It has a strong central trunk with evenly spaced side branches, which become pendent at the tips as the tree ages. The leathery leaves are opposite, short stalked, and elliptic oblong with acuminate tips. The upper surface is bright shining green. The under surface is a dull green. All parts of the plant are without pubescence. Trees are highly sensitive to soil and alkalinity. Trees often do poorly in Florida not because of climate but because of salt spray, sandy soil, and high salt in the soil. Prefers humid conditions with over 100" of rain per year. Mangosteens can be planted near streams, ponds, or other bodies of water where portions of their root systems remain moist year-round. Heavy mulching is recommended in drier areas to retain soil moisture. Flowering and fruiting usually occurs in summer or after periods of heavy rainfall. Mature trees may bear anywhere from 100 to 3000 fruits. Seeds have extremely short viability, only 1 to 5 days, and must be planted immediately upon removal from the fruit. Germination takes place in 2 to 3 weeks. Seedlings soon develop a long tap root which is vital to the survival of the tree so great care should be taken when transplanting. Other forms of propagation are usually unsuccessful. Fruiting takes from 6 to 12 years from seed.

Garcinia megaphylla, Garcinia macrophylla, Rheedia macrophylla, Garcinia magnifolia, Rheedia magnifolia

In some sources Garcinia megaphylla is indicated as synonim of Garcinia magnifolia.

It is found in Brazil in 1841, in the Amazonian montian forests.

Bacuripari is an evergreen tree with stiff, leathery leaves, growing 20-25 ft tall.

The fruit is very popular within its native range. It is commonly gathered from the wild, and is also sometimes cultivated, especially in home gardens, for the fruit which is widely sold in native markets. It is eaten raw or made into jams. The white, aril-like pulp is agreeably subacid. It has many medicinal properties.

Garcinia nervosa

Garcinia prainiana

Small tropical fruit tree with glossy leaves and very fragrant reddish-pink flowers. Deep within the verdant rainforests of Borneo, Cherapu Garcinia prainiana plants begin a most ancient of rituals. Amidst the dense foliage, small red flowers emerge like jewels from the deep green branch tips, effusing their sweet aroma in hopes of seducing tiny insects. Beneath the tropical sun, the insects flitter playfully among the male and female blooms, unwittingly pollinating their thankful hosts. Brilliant orange fruits have very pleasant taste, with unusual sweet-sour flavored pulp. The fruits are smaller than the mangosteen. Button mangosteens are excellent plants for container growth. The trees are very slow growing but long-lived and can fruit when only a few feet tall.

Garcinia schomburgkiana

Villagers in the Central Plain brought them from the forest to grow for home consumption. The young leaf is served as a vegetable accompaniment to many Thai dishes and can be eaten either raw or cooked. The fruit is rich in vitamin A and calcium and is eaten fresh, but has a very sour taste. It can also be used in a sauce of shrimp paste and chilli and eaten with vegetables and fish. The traditional ethnomedicinal uses of madan's leaves, root and fruit are as an expectorant, treatment of coughs, improvement of menstrual blood quality, treatment of diabetes and as a laxative.

Garcinia sp.

Species:

Garcinia atroviridis

Garcinia cambogia

Garcinia dulcis (Maphuut)

Garcinia hombroniana

Garcinia livingstonei

Garcinia mangostana

Garcinia megaphylla

Garcinia nervosa

Garcinia nigrolineata

Garcinia parvifolia

Garcinia prainiana

Garcinia schomburgkiana

Garcinia spicata

Garcinia subelliptica

Garcinia xanthochymus