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Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T.Anderson
| Family Name: | Clusiaceae (Guttiferae) |
| Common Name: | Asam Gelugor, Gelugor |
Name
| Family Name | |
| Genus Epithet | |
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| Name Status (botanical) | |
| Common Names |
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Columnar |
| Maximum Height | 27 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status 1 | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree up to 27 m tall. |
| Foliage | Its opposite, stalked leaves have leathery leaf blades that are oblong, dark glossy green above, and 12.5–30 by 3–7.5 cm, with fine dark wavy lines on the underside. |
| Flowers | Its large, faintly fragrant to scentless flowers are 3–4.5 cm wide, with crimson petals. |
| Fruits | Its large fruits are nearly round, orange-yellow when ripe, and 6.5–10 cm wide. Its seeds are strongly flattened. |
| Habitat | It grows in hill and lowland forest up to 600 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are pollinated by insects. Its fruits are eaten by small mammals. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Garcinia, commemoratingafter Laurent Garcin (16831751), a French botanist who travelled widely in India; Latin atroviridis, very dark green, referring to the colour of the leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves) Food (Fruit & Vegetable : The fresh fruits or dried fruit slices are used as a seasoning or sour relish (asam gelugor) in cooking, including curries. The young leaves are eaten.) Medicinal ( The juice from the leaves is used by a woman after childbirth. A decoction of the leaves and roots is used for ear-aches. When mixed with vinegar, the fruit is used in a lotion for a woman after confinement.) |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | The plant has a sparse broken conical canopy, and new leaves that flush red. It is a tree suitable for gardens, parks and roadsides. |
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits, Ornamental Form |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Landscape Uses | General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Leathery, Thick |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 40 Tree Dense Canopy |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Unisexual & Bisexual Flowers(Sub-dioecious) |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Fruit, Seed & Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Fleshy Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | Non-Accessory Fruit |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 1630 |
| Species ID | 2923 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
