Common Name:

General Information

Mangifera altissima is an erect, evergreen tree growing from 12 - 35 metres tall, with occasional specimens known to have attained heights of 54 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 15 - 20 metres, up to 90cm in diameter with small buttresses[, ].
The edible fruit is harvested from the wild for local use, and the plant is occasionally cultivated, especially in the Philippines[, ]. The fruit appears at times in local markets and the wood is also available for sale in small quantities on occasions[]. The fruit is similar to, but considered inferior to the mango (Mangifera indica), which is normally cultivated in place of this species[].
The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Habitat

Primary, lowland, inland forest, sometimes in coastal forest[]. Occurs in wet, evergreen forest at low and medium altitudes, but nowhere abundant[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, found at elevations up to 400 metres[]. It occurs mainly in areas with distinct dry and wet seasons[, ].
Succeeds on a wide range of soil types[].
The main flowering period is usually early in the dry season, but flowers and fruits can usually be found the whole year round[].
Male and bisexual flowers both occur in the same inflorescence[].
Fruits are harvestable about 70 days from full bloom and ripen within 6 days[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The flesh is slightly fibrous, white, resinous, with an acid to slightly sweet flavour[]. The immature fruit is eaten fresh, pickled or mixed with vegetables[, ]. The ripe fruits are eaten raw or used to prepare marmalade[303. 310]. The fruit is a green ellipsoid to ovoid drupe with a tender skin, turning yellow when ripe[]. It is 5 - 8 cm x 3 - 6 cm, weighing about 40 g, and containing a single, large seed[, ].

The seeds are salted and pounded to obtain an edible meal[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is a dark brown with almost black longitudinal bands; it is not clearly differentiated from the 8 - 10cm wide band of light coloured sapwood. The texture is moderately fine; the grain generally straight, occasionally wavy; there is no distinctive taste or odour. It seasons well, is easy to work and takes a beautiful polish. It is durable for interior work, but very perishable when in contact with the ground. It is used for general construction work, sheeting, ceilings, door panels, flooring, furniture, and cabinet work, veneer and plywood, and gunstocks[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
M. altissima is usually propagated by seed, although it can be readily propagated by cleft grafting, using either seedlings of mango or M. altissima as a rootstock. Grafted M. altissima trees remain much smaller and have a more compact crown than seedling trees[].

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