Garcinia xanthochymus
| Mysore gamboge (Garcinia xanthochymus) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific name | Garcinia xanthochymus |
| Common names | Mysore gamboge; yellow mangosteen; false mangosteen |
| Genus | Garcinia |
| Family | Clusiaceae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Fruit type | Berry |
| Growth form | Evergreen tree |
| Native range | Southern China, the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indochina |
| Climate and site | Hot, humid tropics; moist soil; sun or part shade |
| Mature size | About 8–15 m |
| Propagation | Seed; grafting |
| Fruit | Yellow, globose to ovoid berry, about 3–5 cm across |
| Harvest | Often March–May in cultivation; local timing varies |
| Years to fruit | N/A |
Mysore gamboge (Garcinia xanthochymus; also yellow mangosteen and false mangosteen) is an evergreen Asian tree in the family Clusiaceae. It produces yellow, acidic fruit used fresh and in preserves, sherbets, curries, vinegars, and other preparations. It is distinct from purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).[1][2]
Description[edit | edit source]
The tree has horizontal branches and a dense, pyramidal crown, and commonly reaches about 8–15 m. Its leaves are opposite, glossy, leathery, and oblong to lance-shaped. The yellow berry is globose or ovoid, about 3–5 cm across, and may contain one to three seeds. The fruit has a persistent calyx and a stout stalk.[2][3][4]
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
Garcinia xanthochymus is native from southern China through the Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indochina. It grows in dense humid forests in valleys and on hills, commonly at about 600–1,000 m. The species is cultivated or semi-cultivated in parts of its range and is also grown in tropical collections.[2][4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Mysore gamboge is a hot, humid-tropical tree. It grows at elevations up to about 1,000 m and performs best with regular root moisture, warm nights, and protection from frost. Full sun or part shade is suitable. Temperatures near 0 °C can damage the plant, and about −2 °C can kill it, so young trees need protection even where mature trees experience brief cool weather.[2][3][4]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
Use a well-drained soil that remains moderately moist. Sandy, loamy, or clay soils are tolerated, including nutritionally poor ground, but a moist, aerated root zone is preferable to prolonged saturation. A pH around 6–7.5 is preferred, with a broader reported tolerance from about 5.5 to 8. Mulch helps stabilize moisture in the root zone during dry weather.[3][4]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Full sun or light shade can be used. The species is naturally associated with humid forest air and sheltered valleys, while open sites require more attention to irrigation and wind. Give the canopy good airflow and avoid a position exposed to cold, drying wind; no fixed humidity percentage is established for this species.[2][4]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Flowering usually follows a pronounced dry spell and may occur twice in a year. A cultivation record places the main fruit season around March–May, but monsoon timing, elevation, and local irrigation can shift flowering and harvest. Maintain moisture after flowering and through fruit enlargement, then reduce drought stress without keeping the soil saturated during the wet season.[2][3]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Propagation is by seed or grafting. Sow fresh seed promptly after cleaning the fruit, keep the medium warm and evenly moist, and expect seedling plants to vary in vigor and eventual fruiting. Grafting is useful when a known fruiting plant must be reproduced. Young plants are also used as rootstocks for purple mangosteen in some horticultural systems, but that rootstock use does not make the two species interchangeable.[2][3]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowers are produced after a dry period, sometimes twice annually. The yellow berries are harvested when mature and fully colored; the reported March–May season is a regional cultivation reference rather than a universal calendar. No dependable species-wide years-to-first-fruit value is established, so orchard planning should allow for variation by seedling age, climate, grafting, and management.[2][3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The ripe fruit is eaten fresh or cooked. Its flesh is pleasantly acidic to sour and is used in sherbets, jams, curries, vinegars, and other flavoring preparations. The fruit juice can provide a dye, while gamboge resin is a separate product associated with several Garcinia species; fruit use should not be conflated with the wider gamboge trade.[2][4]
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [1] GBIF species match: Garcinia xanthochymus. Exact accepted match; family, order, and genus.
- ↑ [2] Useful Tropical Plants: Garcinia xanthochymus. Habit, range, habitat, climate, phenology, propagation, fruit, and uses.
- ↑ [3] Growables: “Gamboge, False mangosteen, Garcinia xanthochymus.”. Size, fruit, season, soil, pH, cold limits, propagation, and food uses.
- ↑ [4] Plants For A Future: Garcinia xanthochymus. Habitat, range, soil, edibility, fruit size, and uses.
