Garcinia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae native to the Sundaland bioregion of Asia, America, Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia. The number of species is disputed; Plants of the World Online (POWO) recognise up to 400. Commonly, the plants in this genus are called saptrees, mangosteens (which may also refer specifically to Garcinia mangostana), or garcinias, and is one of several plants known as by the name "monkey fruit". The genus is named after French botanist Laurent Garcin (1683–1751).
Trees of many species from this genus tend to grow deep in forested areas where other plants grow nearby. They are threatened by habitat destruction, and at least one species, G. cadelliana, from South Andaman Island, is almost or even completely extinct already.
Description
Garcinia species are evergreen trees and shrubs, dioecious and in several cases apomictic. Among neotropical Garcinia, several species are dioecious (G. leptophylla, G. macrophylla and G. magnifolia), although male and female trees have often been observed to have some degree of self-fertility.
The flowering season of garcinias may happen after 10–15 years after growth. Male flowers last longer than female flowers that lose petals after a short blooming period. The species' female flower stigmas swell to produce berries with fleshy white flesh with reddish to dark-coloured woody exocarps when they ripen; the stigma lobes can be seen on the opposite or free ends (exterior apices) of many species' fruits. The fruits are food source for several animals, such as the archduke butterflies (Lexias spp.) of tropical eastern Asia which relish the sap of overripe mangosteens.
Uses
Hydroxycitric acid, a chemical compound found in mangosteen rind
The fruit of most species of Garcinia are eaten locally; some species' fruits are highly esteemed in one region, but unknown just a few hundred kilometres away. The best-known species is Garcinia mangostana, which is now cultivated...
