Common Name: Indian Gamboge Tree

General Information

Garcinia morella is an evergreen tree with a dense, pyramidal crown and spreading branches; it usually grows around 10 - 15 metres tall[].
The tree supplies an edible fruit, oil and gum. It is a source of 'gamboge', a gum-resin with a wide range of uses that is commonly harvested from several species in this genus and traded internationally. The tree is sometimes used as a rootstock for the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) and has been proposed for cultivation for its resin[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

Habitat

An understorey tree in evergreen forests at elevations up to 1,200 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants resent root disturbance[].
A dioecious species, both male and female plants usually need to be grown if fruit and seed are required. At least some dioecious Garcinia species, however, are able to produce fertile seed even in the absence of fertilization (asexual reproduction). Such seeds would be expected to be genetically identical to the parent[]

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The small yellow fruit is esteemed as a dessert fruit[]. The ripe fruits are eaten raw, but are very acidic, they are also made into pickles and chutney and can be dried for later use[]. The sundried slices are added to black green pulses to make a slightly acidic curry which is popular in parts of India[]. The immature fruits are cooked as an acidic vegetable. The cherry-shaped fruit is about 20 - 30mm in diameter, containing around 4 large seeds[, ].

A yellow fat obtained from the seed is used in cooking and confectionery[]. It is also used as a substitute for ghee[].

The source of gamboge, a gum-resin that is used in food, medicines etc[].

Medicinal

Gamboge, a gum-resin obtained from the bark, branches and fruits, is anthelmintic and purgative[, ]. It is used in the treatment of dropsical affections, amenorrhoea, obstinate constipation and as a vermifuge[].
The gum-resin is used topically as an ointment[].

The dried fruit slices are considered a beneficial treatment for dysentery[].

Other Uses

Gamboge, a gum-resin that is freely obtained from the bark stems and fruit, is used as a yellow dye, as an illuminant and in varnishes, water colours etc[, ]. It is traditionally collected by cutting a thin slice off the bark of the tree about the size of the palm of the hand - the resin collects there and is scraped off when sufficiently dried[].
Gamboge is a gum-resin which is obtained from the bark, branches and fruits of several species in the genus Garcinia. It contains around 70 - 80% resin with 15 - 25% gum and is used primarily as a pigment, being used to dye cloth (the yellow silken robes of Buddhist monks are often dyed with it), as well as supplying a golden-yellow colouring to varnishes, lacquers, paints, ink, water colours etc[, , , ].

The plant is sometimes used as a rootstock for the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)[].

The yellow wood is hard, mottled with numerous, wavy, concentric bands of a soft texture[].

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[].

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