Garcinia travancorica Bedd.

Systematic Classification:

Division	: Angiospermae
Class		: Dicotyledons
Family		: Clusiaceae		
Genus		: Garcinia
Species	        : travancorica

Common Name:

Malampongu

General Information:

Trees up to 12 m tall. Bark brown. Branchlets obtusely quadrangular, glabrous. Latex yellow. Leaves simple, opposite, decussate; petiole 1-1.8 cm long, canaliculate, glabrous, slightly sheathing at base; lamina 5-11 x 1.3-2.5 cm, narrow oblong, apex obtuse, base acute, margin revolute, coriaceous, glabrous; secondary nerves nearly perpendicular to midrib, parallel; tertiary nerves finely reticulate, impressed above in older leaves. Flowers dioecious; male flowers in terminal cymes; female flowers one or two in upper axils. Fruit and Seed. Berry oblong to subglobose with persistent style and broad stigma, usually 1-seeded.

Economic Importance:

• Gamboge, a gum-resin obtained from the plant, is used as an ointment.
• It is used as a yellow dye, as an illuminant and in varnishes, water colours etc.
• The wood is yellowish-brown with a pale yellow sapwood. It is hard, heavy and close grained.