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Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson
| Family Name: | Clusiaceae (Guttiferae) |
| Synonyms: | Garcinia ferrandii, Garcinia pallidinervia, Garcinia angolensis, Garcinia baikeana, Garcinia pendula, Garcinia livingstonei var. pallidinervia, Garcinia baikeana var. togoensis |
| Common Name: | African Mangosteen, Imbé |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 18 m |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A tree which can grow to 18 m high. Bark is greyish brown and produced yellow-red latex when damaged. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are quite variable in shape and size. They usually occurs in whorls of 3 (rarely of 4 or opposite arrangement), about 4 – 14 cm long and 1.5 – 11 cm wide. Leaf margin, at times, have shallowly round teeth. |
| Flowers | Flowers are greenish-white to cream with translucent reddish orange longitudinal glandular lines. Flowers are produced on the axils of matured leaves in cluster of 5 – 15 flowers each. Each flower usually have 5 petals but sometimes up to 8 when petals are linked with sepals by transitional forms. |
| Fruit | The fruit is 1 – 3 cm diameter, slight oval to round shaped, and matures orange-yellow. The pulp inside is edible and said to have an apricot-like flavour. Seed is about 1.5 – 2 cm long. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The pulp inside the fruit is eaten raw or made into jams, and said to have an apricot-like flavour. In east Africa and Mozambique, locals make beverages and alcohol by fermenting the pulp. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Orange, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29709 |
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| Species ID | 4018 |
| 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. |
