Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Garcinia mangostana L. (CLUSIACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Mangosteen

Description

Small or medium-sized evergreen tree to 25 m tall with dense pyramidal or dome-like crown. Leaves 14-24 cm long, opposite, elliptic-oblong. Female flowers c. 5 cm across, solitary, dark pink to red-purple, male flowers unknown. Fruits 6-7 cm across, globose, seated on persistent leathery sepals, dull re-purple to dark purplish brown when ripe.


Ecology

Only known in cultivation.

Distribution

Widely cultivated in SE Asia.

Uses

The Mangosteen is one of the most delicious fruits, mostly eaten fresh.