Garcinia pedunculata

Garcinia pedunculata is an evergreen tree related to the purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). The tree is endemic to the south-eastern regions of Asia such as parts of Myanmar, Bangladesh and north-eastern parts of India. It is popularly known in India as Amlavetasa, in Bangladesh as Thoikor or Taikor and in Assam as Bor Thekera(বৰ থেকেৰা ).

Description

A large tree. It grows about 20 m high. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. The trunk is fluted. The branches are short and spreading. The small branches are 4 angled. The leaves are sword shaped. The leaves are 16-26 cm long by 7-10 cm wide. The flowers are green. The male flowers are in clusters of 8-12 flowers and the female flowers occur singly or in groups of 3. The fruit are 8-10 cm long and yellow-orange. There are 8-10 kidney shaped seeds.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten cooked or raw. Usually the ripe or raw fruits are sliced, sun-dried and preserved. In the state of Assam the fruit is used in cooking to add a sour flavour.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw or mixed with seasoning. They are sour. They are also made into drinks. It is also used cooked. It is mixed with curries. The ripe fruit are cut into slices and dried in the sun and then used for sour fish curry.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is used medicinally. The fruit helps to cure stomach problems, diarrhoea and dysentery, besides acting as digestive and cooling agent. The fruit contains malic acid.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in humid dense forests on hills between 200-400 m altitude and sometimes to 1500 m in southern China. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Tibet, Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia,

Cultivation

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

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 exudes almost no resin when cut. The raw or cooked fruit can be used as a fixative or as a mordant for saffron dye. The wood is moderately hard. A good timber, it is used for planks, beams etc.

Production

In NE India plants flower and fruit September to February.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 300 Garcinia species.

Nutrition

Also Known As

Aghatsa, Amalbed, Ampri arong, Baikal, Borthekera, Bua cong, Da guo teng huang, Dieng-soh-danei, Gidir thaikha, Haibum, Heibung, Kor-mang, Metlin-chin, Mibia, Ngai-chi, Pranpre, Prumang, Sangsulasu, Sani, Sanmopua, Soh-danei, Tabing esing, Thaikhra gede, Thizou, Tikul, Tikur, Vawm-va-pui, Vomva

References (37)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 231
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550 (Typing error)
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 73
• Balkrishna, A., et al, 2022, Indigenous Uses of Plants among Forest-dependent Communities of Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh. International Journal of Economic Plants 2022, 9(1):064-080
• Baro, D., Baruah, S. and Borthukar, S. K. 2015, Documentation on wild vegetables of Baksa district, BTAD (Assam). Scholars Research Library. Archives of Applied Science Research, 2015, 7 (9):19-27

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