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Project Name Data (Last Modified On 10/17/2013)
 

Flora Data (Last Modified On 10/17/2013)
Genus Garcinia L.
PlaceOfPublication Sp. P1. 443. 1753
Note TYPE: G. mangostana L.
Synonym Cambogia L., Gen. PI. ed. 5. Adde. 1. 1754. TYPE: C. gutta L. = Garcina gutta (L.) Wight. Coddampuli Adans., Fam. 2: 445. 1763. Based on Cambogia L. Biwaldia Scop., Introd. 232. 1777. Based on Garcinia mangostana L. Dactylanthera Welw., Apomt. Phytogeogr. in Ann. Conselh. Ultramar. 560. 1858. Clusianthemum Vieill., Bull. Soc. Linn. Normand. 9: 338. 1865. TYPE: C. pedicellatum Vieill.
Description Erect shrubs or trees, mostly glabrous; sometimes dioecious or polygamous; sap yellow or white. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, mostly coriaceous with a prominent costa, lateral veins numerous, parallel, somewhat arcuate, becoming reticulate near the margin and forming a submarginal vein at or near the margin; petioles sometimes stout usually with an axillary wedge of tissue forming a pit; stipules wanting. Inflorescences fasciculate in the leaf axils or solitary and ter- minal, mostly small, pedicellate; bracts wanting or inconspicuous. Flowers per- fect or unisexual, sepals 2-4(-5), decussate, coriaceous, mostly imbricate; petals 2-4(-6), white, yellow or red; stamens numerous, inserted in one or more whorls or clusters, connate or free, the anthers variously dehiscent, rudimentary or want- ing in pistillate flowers; ovary inserted in an annular disc, mostly ovoid, the style usually short and stout, sometimes obsolete, the stigmas 3-12, coherent to form an entire or sinuate cap over the style, carpels 2-12, one erect ovule in each. Fruit a leathery berry or drupe, mostly 1 celled, the rind sometimes thick, smooth or tuberculate, the mesocarp often juicy and sweet; seeds 1-3, arillate, mostly ellipsoidal; embryo minute.
Habit shrubs or trees
Note Garcinia includes 400-500 species occurring in most tropical countries. Trees are commonly in the forest understory in wet regions. Many species have co- mestible fruits, and a number of them have sap useful for medicine or other purposes. Garcinia embraces three quite distinct subgenera, subg. Garcinia, subg. Xan- thochymus, and subg. Rheediopsis (Vesque, 1893). In subg. Rheediopsis sect. Rheediopsis, the stamens are free or united into 4 groups, and the flowers are 4-merous. This subgenus is confined to Africa. Many other features of these plants are suggestive of Rheedia, and this subgenus should probably be removed from Garcinia and placed in Rheedia, which is otherwise confined to Madagascar and the Neotropics. In subgenus Xanthochymus, flowers are 5-merous, and the stamens are united in 4-5 fascicles in contrast to subg. Garcinia where there are many elaborate configurations of the stamens, and flowers are usually 4-merous. Leaves of Garcinia pictorius, the type of subg. Xanthochymus, are much like those of some species of Rheedia, e.g. R. lateriflora and R. macrophylla, and unlike those of G. mangostana, the type of subg. Garcinia, especially with re- spect to venation. In this treatment, Rheedia is recognized as distinct from Gar- cinia, but disposition of the Old World groups is left to those working with those plants.
Reference Maheshwari, J. K. 1964. Taxonomic studies on Indian Guttiferae. III. The genus Garcinia Linn. s. 1. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 107-135.
Key a. Fruits with the stigmas forming a flat sessile cap, purplish brown; sepals and petals 4; leaves mostly broadest above the middle (subgenus Garcinia) ...... 1. G. mangostana aa. Fruits apiculate, yellow; sepals and petals mostly 5; leaves mostly broadest below the middle (subgenus Xanthochymus) ...... 2. G. pictorius
 
 
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