Gmelina arborea
| Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Gmelina arborea [1] |
| Genus | Gmelina |
| Family | Lamiaceae [1] |
| Order | Lamiales [1] |
| Common names | Gmelina; white teak; gumhar; Malay bush-beech [2] |
| Growth form | Fast-growing deciduous tree, about 3–30 m [2] |
| Native range | Tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia [3] |
| Climate and site | Warm tropical or subtropical conditions, full sun, and well-drained soil [2] |
| Propagation | Seed, large cuttings, or direct sowing [2] |
| Fruit | Ovoid drupe, about 18–25 mm, yellow to dark purple when described at different stages [4] |
Gmelina arborea, commonly called gmelina, white teak, gumhar, or Malay bush-beech, is a fast-growing deciduous tree of tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia. [2] [3] The accepted species name is Gmelina arborea; Gmelina rheedei and Gmelina sinuata are recorded synonyms. [5]
Description[edit | edit source]
The tree is described as reaching about 3–30 m, with the final size varying with site and cultivation. [2] It is deciduous and associated with semi-deciduous tropical and subtropical forest. [3] The fruit is an ovoid drupe described at about 18–25 mm, with yellow to dark-purple coloration and aromatic, succulent flesh. [4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native setting, Gmelina arborea occurs in tropical and subtropical semi-deciduous forest rather than a permanently wet habitat. [3] The species account gives best performance in well-drained ground and poor performance in badly drained or very poor soils. [2] Give young plants a moisture-retentive but draining soil, then avoid persistent saturation as roots establish. The same account lists a preferred annual rainfall of about 1,500–2,500 mm, with a wider stated tolerance of roughly 750–5,000 mm; these are account values, not universal limits. [2]
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Full sun is listed for cultivation, and the reported preferred daytime temperature is about 22–34 °C. [2] A warm position with open light and good drainage therefore suits the tree better than a shaded, waterlogged site. The species is associated with tropical or subtropical semi-deciduous forest, so atmospheric humidity should be considered together with seasonal rainfall rather than treated as a fixed numerical requirement. [3]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The deciduous habit reflects a seasonal rhythm in which the tree reduces leaf cover during a drier or cooler phase, while the native forest context is semi-deciduous rather than uniformly wet year-round. [3] The cultivation account lists drought tolerance but also gives better growth with the preferred rainfall range. [2] Maintain even moisture during establishment and active growth, reduce irrigation as leaf fall and the local dry season develop, and resume more regular watering when new growth begins. In suitable conditions, flowering is reported to begin about 3–4 years after planting; fruit production may begin about one week after the flowering peak and continue for up to two months. [2]
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Fresh seed is the principal documented route. Warm-water soaking is reported to speed germination, with emergence in about 20–50 days under ideal conditions; an average healthy-lot rate of about 60% is also reported. [2] Treat those figures as conditions attached to the account rather than a guaranteed result for every seed lot. Seed is described as orthodox, so it can be dried and stored under suitable seed-storage conditions rather than requiring immediate sowing. [2]
Transplanting or direct sowing is associated with the rainy season, when establishment moisture is more reliable. [2] The same account records successful propagation from large cuttings, although it does not provide a general rooting percentage or a standardized cutting protocol. Protect new plants from drying during establishment and keep the medium draining.
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is reported to start about 3–4 years after planting under the conditions summarized for the species. [2] Floral morphology is described as discouraging self-pollination, while bees and other insects are listed as pollinators. [2] This makes pollinator activity and the presence of compatible flowering trees relevant when a lone tree flowers but sets little fruit; the account does not establish a universal pollination schedule.
Fruit production is reported to begin about a week after the flowering peak and to extend over as much as two months. [2] The drupe is described as ovoid, about 18–25 mm long, and varying from yellow to dark purple, with aromatic succulent flesh. [4] Harvest timing should therefore follow local color and softness changes rather than a fixed calendar date.
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is described as edible in traditional-use contexts and as having aromatic, succulent flesh. [2] [3] That description supports documenting the fruit as a food use, but it does not establish general food-safety guidance, preparation rules, or medicinal effects.