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 madruno (treated here as a synonym)[].

Common Name: Madruno

General Information

Garcinia madruno is an erect, lush, compact, evergreen tree with a pyramidal or nearly rounded, dense crown; it can grow up to 15 metres tall[, , , ]. The cylindrical bole is 20 - 30cm in diameter[].
The edible fruits are much appreciated and are often gathered from the wild[]. The tree is also sometimes cultivated for its fruits[], which are commonly sold in local markets in Ecuador[, ]. An excellent fruit - it certainly warrants a programme of improvement and selection[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to Nicaragua.

Habitat

Dry forests with generally sandy soils[]. Humid, secondary forests, principally in areas not subject to inundation, on sandy, well-drained soils[]. Found at elevations below 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot, humid tropical lowlands[].
Succeeds in full sun or light shade[]. Plants are tolerant of occasional inundation[].
Newly planted young trees establish well and grow away fairly quickly[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms 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 or cooked. The fruit has a translucent whitish pulp that is juicy, slightly aromatic and pleasantly subacid[, ]. Usually eaten raw, it is also used for making jams, preserves and drinks[]. The yellow, oval to elliptic fruits are 6 - 7.5cm long[].

Medicinal

The yellow latex of the tree is used to treat ulcers and other sores[, ].

Other Uses

A greenish resin, called 'Maria Balsam', is obtained from the tree[].

The pinkish wood is coarse-textured, irregular-grained, hard and heavy. It is not commonly used, mainly being employed locally in construction and as a 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 in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates in excess of 70% are usually achieved, with the seed sprouting within 60 - 70 days[].

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