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Garcinia xanthochymus - Hook.f.

Common Name Mysore Gamboge. Gamboge, Himalayan garcinia
Family Clusiaceae
USDA hardiness 11-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dense humid forests of valleys or on hills at elevations of 600 - 1,000 metres[266 ].
Range E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand to Indo-China.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Garcinia xanthochymus Mysore Gamboge. Gamboge, Himalayan garcinia


edibleplants.org
Garcinia xanthochymus Mysore Gamboge. Gamboge, Himalayan garcinia
wikimedia.org Dinesh Valke

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Garcinia xanthochymus is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) Engl. Garcinia tinctoria (DC.) W. Wight Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb. Xanthochymus tinctorius DC.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[301 ]. The fruit is edible but is rather sour[266 ]. Aromatic[335 ]. A pleasant, acid taste, it is mainly used as a breakfast fruit[301 , 418 ]. It can be eaten fresh, used in sherbets, jams, curries and vinegars, or as a flavouring in other foods[335 , 418 ]. The fruit is a rich source of citric acid[335 ]. The mature berry is yellow, globose or ovoid, sometimes oblique, 3 - 5 cm in diameter[266 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The seeds yield up to 17% oil[266 ]. The juice of the fruit is used as a dye[377 ]. Gamboge, a gum-resin obtained from the plant, is used as a yellow dye, as an illuminant and in varnishes, water colours etc[46 ]. The dye is often used for dyeing the robes of Buddhist priests[317 ]. Young plants are used as rootstocks for the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana[317 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A plant of the hot, humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[335 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 36°c[418 ]. Plants are tolerant of occasional light frosts[335 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 2,500mm[418 ]. Tolerant of shade[335 ]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils including poor soils and soils with a high pH[335 , 418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5.5 - 8[418 ]. Seedling trees can commence fruit production when 7 - 8 years old[335 ]. Flowering usually occurs after a spell of pronounced dry weather and can occur twice a year[418 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no specific information on this species, but the seed of most members of the genus can be slow to germinate, even if sown fresh, often taking 6 months or more[K ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Asam kandis, Chakhasa, Cochin-goraka, Da ye teng huang, Dampal, Daungyan, Dawyan-ban, Dephal, Dieng-soh-rynsan, Dongbei, False mangosteen, Gavei, Guomanda, Hmandaw, Hong Phap, Jevra memadie, Mada-luang, Mada, Madaw, Mysore gamboge, Pohon manggis asam, Tamala, Tempwr, Tepor tenga, Thesampreng, Tinctoria, Tuai-ha-bet, Yellow mangosteen

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu (southwest), Yunnan Sheng) TROPICAL ASIA: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Karnataka, Goa), Nepal, India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Garcinia brasiliensisBacupariTree6.0 10-12 SLMHSNM422
Garcinia gardnerianaBacupari, achachaTree8.0 10-12 SLMHSNM402
Garcinia hanburyiSiam gamboge. Hanbury's garciniaTree15.0 10-12 MLMHSNM012
Garcinia kolaBitter KolaTree12.0 10-12 MLMHSNMWe343
Garcinia madrunoMadruno, Charichuela, MadronoTree10.0 10-12 MLMSNM422
Garcinia mangostanaMangosteen, ManggisTree12.0 11-12 SMHSNM522

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook.f.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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