There is disagreement between botanists over the correct placing of this species, with some recognising the genus Rheedia and placing this species in that genus as Rheedia brasiliensis (treated here as a synonym)[].

Common Name: Bacupari

General Information

Garcinia brasiliensis is a pyramidal, very attractive, evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow 4 - 13 metres tall[, , ]. The cylindrical bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The tree is highly valued for its edible fruit, which is gathered from the wild and consumed locally[]. It is often cultivated for its edible fruit in Brazil, especially in home gardens[, ].
Garcinia brasiliensis has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major
threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, eastern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, French Guiana.

Habitat

Mainly found in secondary forests, by rivers, floodplains, coastal moist broadleaved forests etc[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics.
Succeeds in full sun or light shade[]. Plants can tolerate at least some inundation[].
Newly planted young trees establish and grow away fairly slowly[].

Edible Uses

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

Medicinal

The seeds contain 8 to 9% oil (by weight), which is used in poultices on wounds, whitlows, tumours and, externally, over an enlarged liver[].

An infusion of the pulp has a narcotic action with an effect like that of nicotine[].

The root bark extract contains rheediaxanthone and a polyprenylated benzophenone, other lesser constituents, and 3 new prenylated xanthones[].

Other Uses

The wood is irregular-grained, coarse-textured, heavy, moderately susceptible to rot[]. It is suitable only for rural construction[].
The wood is used for fuel[].
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[].

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[]. A germination rate above 50% can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 15 - 25 days[].

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