Common Name:

General Information

Garcinia rubroechinata is an evergreen tree with a cylindrical bole and stilt roots; it can grow around 12 - 20 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood and oil.
Garcinia rubroechinata has a small range in southwest India, large areas of which have been exposed to fires, grazing, the establishment of commercial plantations and cutting for fuelwood. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southwest India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu)

Habitat

A subcanopy tree growing in moist evergreen forests; generally at elevations from 800 - 1,200 metres, sometimes extending up to 1,800 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

The fruit is a subglobose or ellipsoid, green to yellow green berry, 30 - 60mm x 25 - 50mm, covered with pyramidal spines or broad tubercles. The endocarp is soft, with a sweet white pulp containing 1 - 3 large, oblong seeds[]. This report does not say the fruit is edible[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more details are given.

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the seeds is used for burning[]. Used as an illuminant[].

The dark red wood is hard and heavy[, ]. The closely related Garcinia echinocarpa is used for shingles in Sri Lanka[].

Propagation

Seed -

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