Garcinia livingstonei

Garcinia livingstonei (African mangosteen, lowveld mangosteen, Livingstone's garcinia or imbe) is a species of Garcinia, native to a broad area of tropical Africa, from Côte d'Ivoire east to Somalia, and south to South Africa. It is an evergreen small tree, growing to 6–18 m tall. The leaves are borne in opposite pairs or whorls of 3–4, each leaf blue-green, oval, 6–11 cm long and 3–5.5 cm broad. The flowers are produced in clusters on the stems. The fruit is a small, bright, orange, thin-skinned berry 1–4 cm diameter, with one single large seed; the small yield of edible fruit is pleasantly sweet, yet acidic, but also containing a latex that some people find unpleasant.

Description

A slow growing evergreen shrub. It can grow to 5-10 m high and spread to 5 m wide. It has a twisted trunk. Most branches come out at right angles to the stem. The leaves are tough and leathery. They are 10-15 cm long and with white veins. They are glossy and dark green. The leaves come out in whorls of three. Fruit are about 5 cm across. They have a thin skin, are bright orange and usually have 2 seeds inside. There is a layer of orange pulp around these large seeds. The flesh is edible. The fruit grow on mature wood.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten fresh, cooked with porridge, or used in ice cream, jam, and drinks. The fruit is also fermented to make an alcoholic drink that develops a purple colour.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten fresh. They are also cooked with porridge. They are also used in ice cream, jam and drinks. They are used to make an alcoholic drink. It develops a purple colour. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.

Medicinal Uses

Leaf and flower-extracts have given positive antibiotic tests. The roots are soaked in cold water and the infusion is mixed with milk then drunk to treat abdominal pains in pregnant women. The fruit is used in the treatment of mumps.

Known Hazards

Alcohol produced from this fruit is a cause of cancer.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the hot dry tropical lowlands. Trees grow best on acid soils. They have good salt tolerance. The leaves are wind resistant. Established trees are drought resistant but for best fruit production regular watering is needed. Trees are cold hardy. Trees can survive temperatures down to -3°C. Trees grow best with plenty of sunlight. They grow naturally in open woodland often under the shelter of larger trees. It grows in Miombo woodland. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,050 m above sea level. It does best with a pH of 5.5-7. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Cairns BG.

Where It Grows

Africa*, Asia, Australia, Angola, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North America, SE Asia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, USA, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

As male and female flowers occur on separate trees both male and female trees must be planted. A male tree can be grafted onto a female. Trees can be grown from seed but these take 5-6 years to reach fruiting age. Earlier fruiting can be achieved by grafting onto established rootstocks. Zinc deficiency is more common on alkaline soils. Trees can be grown by air-layering.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. 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. Grafting.

Other Uses

The bark yields a yellow gum which hardens to a substance like gamboge. It can be used as a yellow dye. The tree can be used as a rootstock for the mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). The yellowish white wood is hard. It is said to be susceptible to borers. It is used for building poles, tool handles, wooden spoons, stirring sticks, pegs etc. The wood is used for fuel.

Production

Trees grow slowly. Seedling trees can take 5-6 years until fruiting. Grafted trees can fruit in 3 years. The fruit take 28 days until ripe after fruit set. Fruit are harvested when fully ripe and do not store well.

Other Information

It is an attractive fruit. It is a cultivated food plant. It is a commonly used fruit in Mozambique.

Notes

The leaves and flowers have proven antibiotic activity. The fruit leave lasting stains. There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Chedi, Chimbango, Etunganan, Himbi, Imbe, Impembe, Isinpula, Isinyula, Kikangakanywa, Kisambwe, Laeveldse geelmelkhout, Lisimpula, Livingstone garcinia, Lowveld mangosteen, Mbigo, Mgidzofidzo, Mfungatanzu, Mndee-mzize, Motsaodi, Motsaudi, Mpekecho, Mphimbi, Mpugopugo, Mtotozi, Muelece, Mukanga, Mufodzohi, Mukwananga, Mujanuo, Munhinzwa, Muphiphi, Mupimbi, Murongwe, Mutumbi, Mutungwa, Ngangakanywa, Pohon manggis afrika, Senyula, Shamper, Shanfarood, Sina, Sinyula, Tulla, Umpimbo, Ushika

References (71)

• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 230
• Asfaw, Z. and Tadesse, M., 2001, Prospects for Sustainable Use and Development of Wild Food Plants in Ethiopia. Economic Botany, Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 47-62
• Awodoyin, R.O., Olubode, O.S., Ogbu, J.U., Balogun, R.B., Nwawuisi, J.U. and Orji, K.O., 2015, Indigenous Fruit Trees of Tropical Africa: Status, Opportunity for Development and Biodiversity Management. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 31-41
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 195

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