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Garcinia brasiliensis - Mart.

Common Name Bacupari
Family Clusiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Mainly found in secondary forests, by rivers, floodplains, coastal moist broadleaved forests etc[625 ].
Range S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, French Guiana.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Garcinia brasiliensis Bacupari


Public Domain
Garcinia brasiliensis Bacupari
www.edibleplants.org

 

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Summary

A cultivated fruit tree in South America particularly in Brazil, Bacupira or Garcinia brasiliensis is an evergreen tree growing up to 13 m in height with a dense and rounded crown. The bark is rough and the leaves are leathery and smooth.The ovate, orange-yellow fruit has an excellent flavor - it can be eaten raw or processed into jams. The seeds are used in poultices on wounds, whitlows, tumors, and enlarged liver. The wood is suitable for rural construction and fuel.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Garcinia brasiliensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 6 m (19ft) by 5 m (16ft) 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Rheedia brasiliensis (Mart.) Planch. & Triana.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw. The aril-like translucent subacid white pulp has an excellent flavour, suggesting that of the mangosteen[46 , 301 ]. A highly prized fruit, usually eaten fresh but also makes an excellent jam[46 , 301 ]. The ovate fruit may be 32 - 40mm long, with an orange-yellow, pliable, leathery, tough skin, 3 mm thick that is easily removed[332 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Narcotic  Poultice

The seeds contain 8 to 9% oil (by weight), which is used in poultices on wounds, whitlows, tumours and, externally, over an enlarged liver[336 ]. An infusion of the pulp has a narcotic action with an effect like that of nicotine[336 ]. The root bark extract contains rheediaxanthone and a polyprenylated benzophenone, other lesser constituents, and 3 new prenylated xanthones[336 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fuel  Furniture  Wood

Other Uses: The wood is irregular-grained, coarse-textured, heavy, moderately susceptible to rot[625 ]. It is suitable only for rural construction[625 ]. The wood is used for fuel[625 ]. We do not have any more information on the wood of this species, but a general description of the wood for trees in the Americas which were formerly considered to be in the genus Rheedia is as follows:- The heartwood is dark yellow-brown, grayish- or pinkish-brown, merging gradually into the sapwood; surfaces are sometimes specked with resinous exudations. The texture is medium to coarse; the grain straight to irregular and roey; luster medium to rather low; it is free from discernible odour or taste. Species in Surinam are rated durable to attack by decay fungi and fairly resistant to dry wood termites. Species in Colombia are resistant to a brown-rot fungus but not the white-rot in a laboratory assay. Under field conditions the wood was susceptible to decay and attack by insects. It dries rapidly, but is reported to be moderately difficult to air season, tending to warp and check. Reports on workability vary with species from moderate to high resistance to cutting to machining fairly well; reports on ease of finishing are also variable. The wood is used for purposes such as furniture, flooring (quarter sawn), heavy construction, and general carpentry[316 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An understorey tree. It can be in seasonally flooded forest. A cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are popular. Fruit are sold in local markets. A plant of the moist tropics. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[625 ]. It does best and fruits more readily in full sun. Plants can tolerate at least some inundation[625 ]. Newly planted young trees establish and grow away fairly slowly[625 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Place the seed on its side in a nursery seedbed or individual containers in a semi-shaded position[625 ]. A germination rate above 50% can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 15 - 25 days[625 ]. The seed can only be kept for about 4 months.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Achachairu, Pacura, Achycharii, Bacupari liso, Charichuelo, Guapom, Bacurizinho, Bacuri, Bacupari, Bacopare, Bacopari, Bacopari-miudo, Mangostao-amarelo, Escropari, Bacuri-miudo, Remelento, Bacuri-mirim, pacuri.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Amazon, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil*, Ecuador, French Guiana, Paraguay*, Peru, South America,

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.

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
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
Garcinia xanthochymusMysore Gamboge. Gamboge, Himalayan garciniaTree12.0 11-12 SLMHSNM202

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.

 

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Botanical References

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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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Subject : Garcinia brasiliensis  
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