Garcinia succifolia Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt.

N., Mohanan, P. S., Shameer, Abstract, T. Sabu & L., Garcinia, 2023, Taxonomic revision of Garcinia (Clusiaceae) in India, Rheedea 33 (3), pp. 101-158 : 146-152

Garcinia succifolia Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 41(2): 293. 1872, Forest Fl. Burma 91. 1877. Garcinia loniceroides T.Anderson in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 264. 1874; Maheshw., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 126. 1964; N.P.Singh in B.D.Sharma & Sanjappa (eds.), Fl. India 3: 118. 1993; A.S.Chauhan in N.P.Singh et al., Fl. Manipur 1. 143. 2000. Lectotype (designated by Maheshwari, 1964): Myanmar, Griffith 870 (K [K000677591 digital image!]).

Dioecious evergreen shrubs or small trees; exudation yellow, sticky; branchlets terete. Petioles 0.6–0.8 cm long, slender, adaxially ligulate at base, 5–10 × 1.5–2.5 cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute at base, margins entire, acute-acuminate at apex; midrib raised above and below; lateral veins conspicuous, 8–12 pairs per side, raised on both surfaces. Staminate flowers tetramerous, 3 or rarely more in terminal or axillary fascicles, 0.4–0.5 cm across; sepals broadly ovate, concave, 0.2–0.3 cm long; petals pale green, ovate, 0.3–0.4 cm long; stamens numerous, in a central sub-tetragonal mass; rudimentary pistil absent. Pistillate flowers tetramerous, solitary, axillary, yellowish green; sepals and petals similar to staminate flowers; staminodes in 4-bundles. Berries globose, smooth, 6–10 cm in diam., yellow; aril pulpy.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from September to November; fruiting from November to January.

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, up to 1100 m elevation. It is fairly found in the river banks.

Distribution: India and Myanmar.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Manipur, Tamenglong district, Nungba , 1525 m, November 1907, A . Mebbold 6326 ( CAL) . Nagaland, Naga Hill district, Kungba , 1525 m, December 1907, A . Meebold 7399 ( CAL). MALAYAN PENINSULA , Perak, 60–90 m, September 1881, King’s coll. 2718 ( CAL); Perak, 150– 150 m, January1885, King’s coll. 7077 ( CAL); Perak , 150– 150 m, September 1885, King’s coll. 8196 ( CAL) . MYANMAR, Joukyaghat, s.d., S . Kurz 535; Martaban, s.d., S . Kurz 536 ( CAL)) .

Notes: Kurz (1872) described Garcinia succifolia from Myanmar, without mentioning any specimens. Anderson (1874) described Garcinia loniceroides based on the specimen ‘ Myanmar, Griffith 870’. But Kurz (1877) synonymized G. loniceroides under G. succifolia . However, the subsequent Indian authors Maheshwari (1964), Singh (1993) and Chauhan (2000), followed Anderson (l. c.) in their treatments, whereas IPNI (https://www.ipni.org) and WFO (http://www.worldfloraonline.org) accept priority of G. succifolia over G. loniceroides .

Garcinia talbotii Raizada ex Santapau, Rec. Bot. Surv. India (ed. 2) 16: 14. 1960; Maheshw., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 113. 1964; N.P. Singh in B . D.Sharma & Sanjappa (eds.), Fl. Ind. 3: 127. 1993; M. R . Almeida, Fl. Maharashtra 1: 88. 1996; Arisdason & P . Daniel in P . Daniel, Fl. Kerala 343. 2005; T. S . Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Western Ghats 276. 2014; Palkar et al., Rheedea 27(2): 146. 2017. Type: INDIA, Karnataka, Uttara Kannada district, Gairosoppah Ghat , 20.01.1896, W. A . Talbot 3713 (holo, BSI [ BSI0000000003 !]; iso, CAL!) .

Garcinia ovalifolia sensu Hook.f. , ( ‘ ovalifolius ’), Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 269. 1874, non Oliver, 1868, macrantha Hook.f. ex T.Anderson.

Garcinia malabarica Talbot, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 11: 234. t. 1. 1897, For. Fl. Bombay Pres. 1: 96. 1909, nom. illeg., non Desr., 1792.

Xanthochymus ovalifolius sensu J.Graham, Cat. Pl. Bombay. 26. 1839, non Roxb., 1832.

Garcinia spicata var. macrantha sensu Vesque in A.DC., Monogr. Phan. 8: 311. 1893; T.Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bombay 1: 79. 1901. FiG. 15a–c

Dioecious evergreen trees, up to 20 m tall; branches horizontal spreading; exudate white, turning brownish on exposure; branchlets apically quadrangular. Petioles 0.8–1.7 cm long, rugose, greenish, adaxially ligulate at base; lamina elliptic-ovate, or ovate-oblong, 7.5–18 × 3–10 cm, acute or rarely attenuate at base, retuse or acute at apex; midrib conspicuous on both sides; lateral veins 16–32 pairs, not raised on the surface; exudate canals conspicuous on both surfaces. Staminate flowers pentamerous, many, fascicled axillary or terminal, 1.8–2.3 cm in diam.; pedicel c. 1 cm long, slender; sepal orbicular, concave, 0.4–0.5 cm wide; petals, creamy-white or greenish-white, orbicular-obovate, 0.6–1 × 0.5–0.8 cm, margins membranous; stamens 4–18 each, in 5-phalanges, antipetalus, disc 5, alternating with staminal bundles; rudimentary pistil absent. Pistillate flowers pentamerous, many, axillary fascicled, often on old branchlets, 1.8–2.7 cm across; pedicel 1–1.5 cm long; sepals free, orbicular, concave, 0.5–0.6 cm wide, rarely ciliate on margins; petals creamy white or pale green, orbicular-obovate, concave, 1.3–1.8 × 1.5–1.9 cm, membranous; staminodes 3–5 each, in 5 phalanges, disc 5; ovary globose, 0.3–0.4 cm long, 3-locular, very rarely 4; stigmas peltate, 3-lobed, thick. Berries globose, 4–6 × 3.8–5 cm, smooth, yellow at maturity; aril pulpy. Seeds 1–3, oblong, up to 3 cm long.

Vernacular names: Haldi, Ont (Kannada) ; Limboti, Pansara, Tavir (Marathi).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from January to March; fruiting from March to June.

Habitat: Evergreen to semi-evergreen forests, up to 350 m elevation.

Distribution: Endemic to the Western Ghats.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Karnataka, Uttara Kannada district, Gerusoppa Ghat , s.d., W. A . Talbot 2693 ( BSI, CAL); Diggi , 09.05.1988, W. A . Talbot s.n. ( BSI); Devimane , October 1919, Hallberg & McCann 34583 ( BLAT); Guddhehalli, Karvar, s.d., T. R . Bell 7811, 7844 ( BLAT); Castle Rock , 16.04.1909, R. K . Bhide ( BSI); North Kanara, 03.01.1902, s.coll. 2693 ( MH); Shimoga district , Barakan, Agumbe, 28.03.1964, Sundhara Raghavan 97275 ( BSI); Shimoga, Hulikal Ghat, 04.05.1978, Saldanha 7629 ( MH); Hassan district , Bisle Ghat 08.01.1970, Saldanha 13013 ( MH) . Kerala, Malappuram district, Cherupadi Kavu , 29.01.2014, P. S . Shameer 79607 ( TBGT); Ibid. , 28.04.2014, P. S . Shameer 79609 ( TBGT); Palakkad district, Nelliampathy ghat, 29.06.1914, S. T . Dunn s.n. ( MH [ MH3018 ]); Palakkad district, Mandampatty , 12.04.1978, Nair 56755 ( MH); Thiruvananthapuram district , JNTBGRI, Arboretum cult. s.d., P. S . Shameer 72615 ( TBGT) . Maharashtra, Nashik district, Nandgaon forest, Pune , 01.02.1964, Venkata Reddi 95862 ( BSI); Palghar district , Shirgaon , 21.04.1957, J. A . Vasudeva 17031 ( BSI); Pune district, Bhimashankar , s.d., W. A . Talbot 5024 ( BSI); Auhpe forest , 23.03.1907, G. M . Ryan 1751 ( BSI); Ambavne, Kakepano forest 25.03.1964, Venkata Reddi 96030 ( BSI); Bhimashankar , 25.10.1956, L. A . Vasavade 8575 ( BSI); Ibid. , 13.06.1961, K. P . Janardhanan 72256 ( BSI); Ibid. , 07.06.1962, K. P . Janardhanan 76642 ( BSI); Ibid. , s.d., J. A. V . 9314 ( BSI); Ibid. , 24.02.1961, K. P . Janardhanan 69201 ( BSI); Ibid. , 22.04.1961, K. P . Janardhanan 72108 ( BSI); Choura hill, 04.04.1962, K. P . Janardhanan 76581 ( BSI); Raigad district, Lakeview , Matheran , 29.01.1957, Puri 9895 ( BSI); Picnic spot, Matheran , 26.02.1959, N. A . Irani 2994 ( BLAT); Ibid. , 02.11.1907, H. P . Paranjpe s.n. ( BSI Acc. No. 6751); Ibid. , 09.11.2006, S. C . Majumdar & S. K . Das 192443 ( BSI); Sudagarh Fort, Pali , 09.03.1979, M. J . Kothari 156423 ( BSI); Satara district, Khandala , 21.03.1903, G. A . Gammie 16163 ( BSI); Koyna , 23.11.1978, R. K . Kochhar 157811 ( BSI); Jaigad, Koyna , 11.02.1979, R. K . Kochhar 158332 ( BSI); Sindhudurg district, Amboli , 28.04.1902, G. A . Gammie 15025 ( BSI); Amboli , 09.11.1965, B. G . Kulkarni 107936 ( BSI); Meroli Plateau, Khandala H . Santapau 3566, 4210 ( BLAT); Ibid. , 21.03.1903, G. A . Gammie 16163 ( BSI); Ibid., Elphinstone slopes, 20.12.1949, H . Santapau 10585 ( BLAT); Ibid. , 26.01.1959, H . Santapau 866, 23053 ( BLAT); Ibid., Coona River , October 1918, H . Santapau 28438 ( BLAT); St. Xavier’s Rivine , s.d., H . Santapau 1747, 3251, 3252, 15422, 15423 ( BLAT) .

Conservation status: Least Concern ( IUCN, 2020).

Uses: The fruits yield an inferior quality of yellow gum. Its dried fruits are used like tamarind in curries ( Singh, 1993).

Notes: Garcinia talbotii and G. spicata are two closely resembling species, but distinct. Garcinia talbotii is endemic to the Western Ghats whereas G. spicata is distributed in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. In almost all herbaria, both species are found erroneously identified both ways. Palkar et al. (2017) confirmed the identity of both species and demarcated their distribution as G. talboti endemic to central and northern Western Ghats, whereas G. spicata , besides Sri Lanka , has scattered distribution in southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. Garcinia malabarica Desr. (in Lam. Encycl. 3: 701, 1792) was an erroneous identification and naming for the Rheede’s ‘ Panitsjika-maram’ (Rheede, Hort. Malab. 3: 45-47, t. 41. 1682). This was later correctly identified and named as Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel. ( Kosteletzky, 1834; Nicolson et al., 1988).

Garcinia travancorica Bedd., Fl. Sylv. t. 173. 1872; T.Anderson in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 268. 1874; Gamble, Man. Indian Timb , 52. 1902; Bourd., Forest Trees Travancore 25. 1908; Brandis, Indian Trees 49; Rama Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore 30.1914; Dunn in Gamble, Fl. Madras 1: 74. 1915; Engl., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (ed. 2) 21: 224. 1925; Maheshw., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 120. 1964; N.P.Singh in B.D.Sharma & Sanjappa (eds.), Fl. India 3: 128. 1993; M.Mohanan & A.N.Henry Fl. Thiruvananthapuram 72. 1994; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruy WLS 32. 1997; Gopalan & A.N.Henry, Endemic Pl. India Southern Western Ghats 206. 2000; K.Ravik. & D.K.Ved, Illustr. Field Guide 100 Red Listed Med. Pl. 157. 2000; N.Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 87. 2002: Arisdason & P.Daniel in P.Daniel, Fl. Kerala 343. 2005; T.S.Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Western Ghats 1: 276. 2014. Lectotype (designated by Maheshwari, 1964): INDIA, Travancore & Tinnevelly Ghats, 01.12.1871, Beddome s.n. (GDC [G00458915 digital image!]). FiG. 15D–f

Dioecious evergreen trees, up to 15 m tall; exudate yellow; branches horizontal; branchlets terete. Petioles 1–1.5 cm long, adaxially ligulate at base; lamina linear-oblong to sub-spathulate, 5.5–10 × 1.5–3 cm, acute at base, margins repand, acute or obtuse at apex; midribs raised above and below, conspicuous on both sides; lateral veins more than 50 pairs per side, raised on both surfaces, closely parallel, exudate canals inconspicuous on both surfaces. Staminate flowers tetramerous, usually 3 in terminal or sub-terminal, trichotomous short cymes, 1.2–1.5 × 0.8–1 cm; pedicel 0.2–0.3 cm long, stout; sepals orbicular, concave, 0.2–0.3 cm wide, margins membranous; petals creamy white, orbicular, concave, 0.5–0.7 cm wide; stamens numerous, arranged on 4 polyandrous bundles; rudimentary pistil columnar, with a circular peltate stigma. Pistillate flowers tetramerous, terminal or sub-terminal, solitary or rarely paired, 1.3–1.5 × 8– 1.2 cm; sepals orbicular, convex, 0.4–0.5 cm wide; margins membranous; petals milky white, orbicular to sub-orbicular, 0.6–0.8 cm wide; staminodes many, free or 2–3-united, arranged in a circle around ovary; ovary sub-globose or pyriform, 0.2–0.3 cm in diam., 1–2-locular; stigma sessile, peltate-discoid, convex, yellow, waxy shining. Berries ovoid-oblong, 2–3 × 1–2.5 cm, smooth, with persistent discoid stigma. Seeds 1 or 2, ovoid, 2–2.5 × 0.7–1 cm.

Vernacular names: Malampongu (Malayalam).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from January to May; fruiting from April to August.

Habitat: In evergreen forests, between 950–1250 m elevation.

Distribution: Endemic to southern Western Ghats.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Travancore , Beddome s.n. ( MH) ; Travancore , 02.10.1894, T. F. Bourdillon 327, 328 ( CAL, MH) ; Chemmunji , 22.01.1992, N. Mohanan 11037 ( TBGT) ; Agasthyamalai , 20.06.1999, William Decruse & Gangaprasad 15168 ( TBGT) ; Chemmunji , 19.01.2000, Rajkumar 41848 ( TBGT) ; Ibid. , 29.02.2000, Rajkumar 38787 ( TBGT) ; Ibid. , 30.09.2013, Rajkumar & Alister 77159 ( TBGT) . Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli district, Travancore and Tinnevelley , s.d., s.coll. 2997 ( MH) ; Tinnevelly hills, 1200 m, s.d., s.coll. s.n. ( MH [ MH2992 ]) ; Kalivayalpil, Tinnevelley , 01.06.1901, Barber 3051 ( MH) ; Kalivayalpil to Hamington Bungalow, Travancore , 02.06.1901, Barber 3071( MH) ; Agasthyamalai , 20.08.1963, Henry 17337 ( MH) ; Kanyakumari district, Upper Kodayar , 23.03.1984, Gopalan 81418 ( MH) ; Muthukulyvagal, Travancore , 03.10.1904, T. F. Bourdillon 328 ( MH) . Without precise locality, s.d., s.coll. 411 ( BM [ BM000946509 , digital image!]) ; December 1871, Beddome 211 ( K [ K000677615 , digital image!]) ; Ibid. , 212 ([ K000677614 digital image!]) .

Conservation status: Critically Endangered ( IUCN, 2020).

Uses: It yield a soluble yellow pigment used as a water colour.

Garcinia wightii T.Anderson in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 265.1874; Pierre, Fl. Forest. Chochinch. 33: t. 86A. 1883; Vesque in A.DC., Monogr. Phan. 8: 427. 1893; Gamble, Man. Indian Timb. 55. 1902; Dunn in Gamble, Fl. Madras 1: 74. 1915; Brandis, Indian Trees 53. 1907; Rama Rao, Fl. Pl. Travancore 30. 1914; Engl., Nat. Pflanzenfam. (ed. 2) 21: 226. 1925; Maheshw., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 134. 1964; N.C.Nair & A.N.Henry, Fl. Tamil Nadu, ser. 1, 1: 28. 1983; M.Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 80. 1984; N.P.Singh in B.D.Sharma & Sanjappa (edn.), Fl. Ind. 3: 129. 1993; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta Dist. 62. 1994; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 53. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 26. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary 22. 2002; Sasidh., Biodiv. Doc. Kerala Fl. Pl. 6: 42. 2004; Arisdason & P.Daniel in P.Daniel Fl. Kerala 344. 2005; T.S.Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Western Ghats 1: 277. 2014. Lectotype (designated by Maheshwari, 1964): Southern India, without presise locality, 1866, R. Wight 145 (K [K000677600 digital image!]). FiG. 15G–i

Dioecious evergreen trees, up to 15m tall; exudation deep yellow; branches horizontally spreading; branchlets tetra-angular. Petioles 0.6–0.8 cm long, slender, adaxially ligulate at base; lamina linear-lanceolate, 6–14 × 1.5–3 cm, acute at base, margins entire, attenuated towards tip.; midribs raised above and below, conspicuous on both sides; lateral veins 12–18 pairs per side; exudate canals inconspicuous on both surfaces. Staminate flowers tetramerous, axillary, solitary or 2–3 together, 1–1.2 × 0.8–1 cm, sessile; sepals orbicular, concave, 0.4–0.5 cm wide, margins membranaceous; petals creamy white, obovate, concave, 0.4–0.6 × 0.2–0.35 cm, membranaceous; stamens 12–15, arranged in a tetragonus mass; rudimentary pistil absent. Pistillate flowers tetramerous, axillary, solitary, 0.5–0.7 × 1–1.5 cm, sessile; sepals orbicular, convex, 0.3–0.4 cm wide, margins membranous; petals pinkish white, obovate, 0.4–0.45 × 0.35–0.4 cm; staminodes 12–16, free or 2–3united, arranged in a ring round the ovary; ovary globose, 0.2–0.3 cm in diam., 4-locular; stigma sessile, large, 4-lobed. Berries sub-globose, 1.2–1.5 × 0.9–1 cm, smooth; stigma and sepals persistent. Seeds 4, oblong-ovoid, 0.7–0.9 × 0.4–0.45 cm.

Vernacular names: Attukaruka, Pulimaranga, Kolivala (Malayalam).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering from November to February; fruiting from January to February.

Habitat: Usually on stream sides in evergreen forests, up to 700 m elevation.

Distribution: Endemic to Southern Western Ghats of Kerala.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Kerala, Idukki district, Udumanparai, Annamalai hills, 22.11.1901, Barber 4085 ( MH); Eranakulam district , Malayatur river bank, Travancore , March 1889, T. F . Bourdillon 58b ( MH); Banks of Periyar river, Travancore , 10.12.1895, T. F . Bourdillon 1575 ( MH); Ibid., 06.12.1904, s.coll. s.n. ( TBGT [ TBGT02250 ]); Kottayam district, Mundakayam , December , 1910, A . Meebold 12839 ( MH, DD); Pathanamthitta district, Panamkutty , 22.01.1983, C. N . Mohanan 77940 ( MH); Attathode, 20.03.1994, Nazarudeen 19596 ( TBGT); Perumthenaruvi , 12.03.2011, S. M . Shareef 70653 ( TBGT); Thiruvananthapuram district , JNTBGRI Arboretum cult., P. S . Shameer 79601 ( TBGT); Ibid. , 18.12.2013, P. S . Shameer 79602 ( TBGT) .

Conservation status: Endangered ( IUCN, 2020).

Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1. 269. 1874; Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 43: 88. 1874, Forest Fl. Burma 1: 93. 1877; Pierre, Fl. Forest. Cochinch. 3: t. 71A. 1883; King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 59: 168. 1890; Vesque in A.DC., Monogr. Phan. 8: 315. 1893; Woodrow, J. Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc. 11: 125. 1897; T.Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bomb. 1: 78. 1901; Brandis, Indian Trees 49. 1907; Haines, Bot. Bihar & Orissa 2: 53. 1921; C.E.Parkinson, For. Fl. Andaman Islands 89. 1923; Craib, Fl. Siam. Enum. 1: 118. 1931; Kanjilal et al., Fl. Assam 1: 104. 1934; Burkill, Dict. Econ. Prod. Mal. Penins. 1: 1056. 1935; Gagnep., Fl. Gen. Indo-Chine suppl. 3: 257. 1943; J.Sinclair, Bull. Bot. Soc. Bengal 9: 87. 1955; Mac Millan, Trop. Pl. & Gard (ed. 5) 258. 1956; Maheshw. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 6: 114. 1964; Kosterm., Ceylon J. Sci., Biol. Sci. 12(1): 67. 1976, in Dassan., Hand. Fl. Ceyoln 1: 87. 1980; N.R.Ugemuge, Fl. Nagpur Dist. 63. 1986; N.P.Singh in B.D.Sharma & Sanjappa (eds.), Fl. Ind. 3: 129. 1993; M.Mohanan & A.N.Henry, Fl. Thiruvananthapuram Dist. 72. 1994; N.P.Singh et al., Fl. Manipur 1: 144. 2000; Sasidh., Biodiv. Doc. Kerala Fl. Pl. 6: 42. 2004; Li Xiwen & al., Fl. China 13: 41. 2007; T.S.Nayar et al., Fl. Pl. Western Ghats. 1: 277. 2014. Lectotype (designated by Maheshwari, 1964): Herb. Martius, Brussels, Circars, W. Roxburgh s.n. (BR [BR6102010489135 digital image!]).

Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb., Pl. Cor. 2: 51. t. 196. 1805, Fl. Ind. 2: 633. 1832.

Stalagmitis pictoria G.Don, Gen. Syst. 1: 620. 1831.

Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) D’Arcy, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 67: 998. 1980, ‘ pictorius ’, (non Garcinia pictoria Roxb. 1832 .), isonym.

Vernacular names: Raja puli, Thamalam (Malayalam) ; Tepol-tenga (Assamese).

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Xanthochymus tinctorius DC., Prod. 1: 562. 1824; Habitat: In moist deciduous to evergreen forests, A.C.White &Arn., Prod. 102. 1834; Choisy, Mem. between 100–1000 m elevation.

Sos. Phys. Hist. Nat. Geneve 12: 43. 1851; Planch.

Distribution: India, Myanmar to Malaysia and China.

& Triana, Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. ser. 4., 14: 304. 1860,

orth. var. Specimens examined: INDIA, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, South Andaman district, Near

Garcinia tinctoria W.Wight, Bull. Bur. Pl. Industr.

Mt. Harriet , 05.04.1884, King 242 ( CAL); South

U.S. D.A. 137: 50 1909; Dunn in Gamble, Fl.

Andaman, s.d. Kurz s.n. (MH [MH46697]); Near

Madras 1: 741915; Gamble in Kew Bull. 64.1916,

port Blair , 24.07.1884, King’s coll. 205 ( CAL) ;

orth. var. FiG. 15j–l

s.loc. 29.06.1914, s.coll., 6224 ( MH); Manjerry ,

Dioecious evergreen trees, up to 15 m tall; 23.08.2003, K . Karthigeyan 19576 ( PBL); Mt. exudation milky or pale green turning yellow Harriet, 11.02.2016, P . S . Shameer 86612 ( TBGT); on exposure; branches usually drooping; Rutland , Bada khadi, 20.02.2004, K . Karthigeyan branchlets tetra-angular. Petioles 1–2.5 cm 21309 ( PBL); North and Middle Andaman district, long, stout, angular, adaxially ligulate at base; East Island Wildlife Sanctuary , 10 m, 27.12.2011, lamina linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, M . Y . Kamble 30509 ( PBL); Entrance Island , 12–45 × 4–13 cm, cuneate at base, margins 08.11.1990, P . Lakshminarasimhan 15206 ( PBL); sub-repand and entire, acute-acuminate at Jharnanala Tikri, Baratang Island, 27 Octobor apex, coriaceous; midribs conspicuous above 1979, Basu 7373 ( CAL); Interview Island , + 5 m, and below; lateral veins conspicuous 15–20 25.04.1964, K . Ramamurthy 18946 ( PBL); Lamia pairs per side, raised above and below; exudate Bay to Kalipur, 01.04.1977, N . P . Balakrishnan 5436, canals conspicuous on both surfaces. Staminate 5444 ( PBL); Long Island , 19.10.1990, G . S . Lakhra flowers pentamerous, 4–10, fascicled axillary or 15524 ( PBL); Saddle Peak Range, 28.03.1977, axils of fallen leaves, 2–3 cm across; pedicel c. 2.5 Balakrishnan 5198 ( PBL); Saddle peak on the way cm long, stout; sepals orbicular, concave, 0.8–1 to hill top, 07.09.2002, R . Sumathi 18583 ( PBL); cm wide, fleshy, ciliate on margins; petals pale Interview Island way to west coast, 23.09.2010, greenish, orbicular, concave, 0.8-1 cm wide, G . S . Lakhra & V . M . Radhakrishnan 28730 ( PBL); slightly membranaceous on margins; stamens Kalpong dam site, 21.02.2016, P . S . Shameer 86626 3–5 each, in 5 phalanges, glands 5, alternating ( TBGT). Paget Island Wildlife Sanctuary , 15 m, stamina phalanges; rudimentary pistil absent. 14.03.2012, M . Y . Kamble 30622 ( PBL); Saddle Pistillate flowers pentamerous, axillary, 1–10 peak foot hills, 20.02.2016, P . S . Shameer 86627 in axillary fascicles, 2.5–3 cm in diam.; pedicel ( TBGT). Andhra Pradesh, Godavari district , 2–4 cm long; bracts minute, sub-orbicular, red; Vathangi, 05.02.1916, s.coll. 12677 ( MH). Assam, bracteoles 2, minute, c. 1 cm long; sepals pale Kamarup rural district, 31.10.1954, Deka 23361 greenish, orbicular, concave, 0.4–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 (ASSAM); Upper Assam, G . Mann 589 ( DD); cm, shortly clawed, ciliate on margins; petals pale Lakhimpur district, Digboi, 15.06.1938, Deka greenish, orbicular, concave, 0.7–1 cm wide, 17012 (ASSAM);. Karnataka, Udupi district, margins membranous; staminodes 5-phalangiate Karkala, South Kanara , 06.04.1970, Rajagopal bundles, alternating with 5 fleshy glandular disc; Shetty 3999 ( MH); Uttara Kannada district , ovary ovoid, 0.2–0.3 cm in diam., 5-locular; Karvar, April 1928, T . R . Bell 3969 ( BLAT); Sirsi , style very short; stigma 5-rayed, spreading, 01.04.1886, W . A . Talbot s.n. ( BSI); Sirsi-Siddhipur, entire, peltate. Berries sub-globose, 5–6 cm October 1919, Hallberg & McCann 34784 ( BLAT); in diam curved-mamellate, bright yellow on Sonda , 06.05.1896, W . A . Talbot 3656 ( BSI); ripening; remnants of stigma persistent. Seeds Yellapur , Saharahalli, 26.05.1954, H . Santapau 1–4, oblong-compressed, 2–3 × 1.2–1.5 cm, 18741 ( BLAT); Ibid. , 17.11.1950, A . R . Baraganza embedded in pulpy aril. s.n. ( DD). Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram district ,

Thumpa, VSSC campus (cult.) 07.01.2016, Teema Joseph 87099 ( TBGT); JNTBGRI orchard (cult.), 21.04.2018, S. M . Shreef 79297 ( TBGT). Maharashtra, Mumbai city district, Victoria Garden, Bombay, January, 1917, s.coll. 13815 ( BLAT); Malabar Hill , Bombay , April 1917, s.coll. 13817 ( BLAT). Pune district , College Garden , Pune , 09.06.1902, L . D. Garade 377 ( BLAT, BSI); Meroli Plateau, Khandala , 10.04.1943, H . Santapau & MCMcnnan 1892 ( BLAT); Meghalaya, East Khasi Hill district, Shillong , 915 m, 20.08.1886, C. B . Clarke 44626 ( GDC, image!); Khasi , J . D. Hooker & T . Thomson s.n. ( CAL). Mizoram, Mizo district, South Lushai , between Luichong and Demagiri, A. T . Gage 205 ( CAL). West Bengal, Dargling district, Mungpoo , s.d., Prain’s coll. s.n. ( CAL); Kurseong, 31.03.1911, Rihu & Rhomboo 4984 ( CAL). Without precise locality, 1901, s.coll. 131 ( CAL). BANGLADESH, Chittagong hill tracks, 1875, J. L . Lister 238 ( CAL); Chittagong Hill Track, 1876, Lister s.n. ( MH [ MH63602 ]); J . D. Hooker & Thomson s.n.. ( CAL); Kodala hills Chittagong, February 1886, Badul Kha n 421 ( CAL); Barkul , Chittagong, 30.03.1876, J. L . Lister s.n. ( CAL). MYANMAR: Martaban, s.coll. 542 ( CAL). SRI LANKA : s.d., Waltter 128 ( CAL) .

Uses: Fruit is edible and has a juicy pulp with a pleasant acidic flavor, used for preserving jams and cool drinks. Exudates from the plant parts are used in dyeing. Bark of the tree and latex of unripe fruits are used to make yellow dye. ( Maheshwari, 1964; Baruah et al., 2021).

Note: The authority of the species is differently given in floras and databases, either as G. xanthochymus Hook.f. or G. xanthochymus Hook.f. ex T.Anderson. In the treatment of Guttiferae in Fl. Brit. Ind., J.D Hooker has given a preface note (Vol. 1. Page 259) that the account of the British India Guttiferae was drawn up by T. Anderson shortly before his death in 1870. But for the reduction of Xanthochymus to Garcinia, Hooker himself is answerable. In this context, the authors treat G. xanthochymus Hook.f. as the correct authority for the species.

Anderson (1874), Dunn (1915), Maheshwari (1964), and Singh (1993) reported G. xanthochymus as distributed throughout India. Floristic accounts pertaining to the Western Ghats (Cook, 1901; Nair & Henry, 1983; Saldanha & Ramesh, 1984; Sasidharan, 2004; Nayar et al., 2006, 2014), also considered it native to their respective areas. But on perusal of specimens in herbaria and through field studies, we found that the species occurring wild only in Northeast India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Whatever specimens are confirmed as G. xanthochymus from other parts of India are all from cultivated sources, as it is widely grown as a fruit plant throughout the country.

Figures

FiG. 15. Species of Garcinia L. in India: a–c. G. talbotii Raizada ex Santapau; D–f. G. travancorica Bedd.; G–i. G. wightii T.Anderson; j–l. G. xanthochyma Hook.f. (a, d, g, j. Staminate flowers; b, e, h, k. Pistillate flowers; c, f, i, l. Fruits; photos by N. Mohanan & P.S. Shameer).