We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Garcinia hanburyi - Hook.f.

Common Name Siam gamboge. Hanbury's garcinia
Family Clusiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards The gum-resin obtained from the trunk has been used in the past as a medicine[303 ]. However, large doses can be fatal, and so it is no longer recommended for human use[303 ].
Habitats Rainforests, at elevations up to 800 metres[303 , 310 ].
Range Southeast Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Garcinia hanburyi Siam gamboge. Hanbury


edibleplants.org
Garcinia hanburyi Siam gamboge. Hanbury
Raffi Kojian - Gardenology.org

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Garcinia hanburyi is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Garcinia morella pedicellata Hanbury

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

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.


The gum resin obtained from the trunk is a drastic purgative, an emetic, and a vermifuge used for treating tape worm[303 , 310 ]. It is no longer used in human medicine[303 ]. Gamboge is odourless and tasteless or slightly acid[303 ]. Large doses of gamboge, administered as a medicine, can be fatal[303 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

The tree is valued because of the resinous sap, called gamboge, which exudes from incisions in the bark[303 , 310 ]. This sap is used as a golden-yellow colouring matter for varnishes, lacquer, paints, and ink[303 ]. It is used as pigment in water colours[317 ]. The reddish-yellow to brownish-orange sap contains 70 - 80% resin and 15 - 25% gum[303 ]. The main acidic component of the resin is cambogic acid (C38H44O8)[303 ]. The main components of the gum are arabinose (ca. 50%), and galactose (ca. 40%); the gum is soluble in water, where it forms a yellow emulsion[303 ]. The wood is pale or brownish-yellow, straight grained, with fine texture, and fairly heavy, weighing about 900 kg/m. It is moderately hard and works easily; it takes a fine polish[303 ]. It is sometimes used for interior work[303 ]. Carbon Farming: An industrial crop - hydrocarbon.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it grows at elevations up to 800 metres[303 ]. It is found in areas where the annual rainfall is up to 2,500 mm[303 ]. Trees are not usually tapped before they are 20 years old, when the trunk has attained a diameter of about 15 cm[303 , 310 ]. A spiral incision is made in the trunk just below the lowest branches, and the exudate is collected in a bamboo container[303 ]. About every 3 days the content is poured into smaller bamboo stem parts (about 75 cm long), in which the gum-resin coagulates in about a month or longer[303 ]. The bamboo containers are then cracked and the gamboge is removed in cylindrical sticks (pipe gamboge), which is the usual form in trade. Sometimes gamboge is moulded and pressed into cakes[303 ]. The gum-resin obtained from this plant is often called Siamese gamboge to distinguish it from the similar product from the bark of G. Morella, which is called Indian gamboge[303 ]. The species are closely related, and this species has been treated in the past as a variety of G. Morella[303 ]

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

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

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

Bua moi, Dang hoang, Gambojia, Gummi-gutti, Gutti,Gummigutt, Indian gamboge tree, Rung, Rong, Tamala

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

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

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

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 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.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

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.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Garcinia hanburyi  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.