Garcinia mestonii

F. M. Bailey

Meston’s mangosteen

Clusiaceae Edible: Fruit 4 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A tall shrub. It grows 4-6 m high and spreads 1-3 m wide. The branches droop. The leaves are 6-7.5 cm long by 1.5-2 cm wide. They are narrow and sword shaped. They are dark green and glossy with wavy edges. The tips are long and drawn out. The leaf stalks are slender and 1-1.5 cm long. The flowering cluster is in the axils of leaves. It is densely branched. The flowers are white and about 8 mm across. They have a scent.

Edible Uses

Fruit - a pleasant flavour. Very juicy, with a sharp, acid, pleasant flavour. The fruit is about the size of an orange.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits highland tropical and subtropical locations. It needs well drained soil. It grows naturally in rainforest in NE Queensland in Australia. It grows from sea level to 1400 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds need to be sown fresh.

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.

Other Uses

The plant is sometimes used as a rootstock for the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana.

Other Information

The fruit is high quality.

Notes

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

References (7)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 485
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 200
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 123
Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 36
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1992, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 4. Lothian. p 331

Show all 7 references