Common Name:

General Information

Garcinia multiflora is an evergreen tree, usually growing 5 - 15 metres tall, but is occasionally more shrub like and only 3 metres tall. The bole can be 20 - 40cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its edible fruit, as well as for its fruit and oil. It is cultivated as a fruit crop in southern China and Vietnam, and also used as a shade tree in tea plantations[].
Garcinia multiflora 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

E. Asia - southern China, Vietnam.

Habitat

Open or dense forests on mountain slopes, valley margins, secondary forests, thickets; usually at elevations from 400 - 1,200 metres, but sometimes descending to 100 metres or ascending to 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 28°c, but can tolerate 15 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 1,100 - 2,500mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils of at least moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 7.5, tolerating 6.5 - 8[].
Flowering usually occurs after a period of pronounced dry weather, and often happens twice a year[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. It is used as a lemon substitute[]. The yellow, ovoid to obovoid fruit is up to 5cm long and 3cm wide[].

Medicinal

The bark is used as an external medicine to reduce inflammation[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used to provide shade in tea plantations[].

Other Uses

The seeds yield up to 50% oil (seed pulp up to 55% oil)[]. The oil is used for lighting, manufacturing soap or as a lubricant for machines[, ].

The timber is hard[]. It is used for making furniture, boats, and woodcuts[].

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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