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Garcinia forbesii

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Garcinia forbesii

Family Name: Clusiaceae (Guttiferae)
Common Name: Rose kandis

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Growth Form Tree
Plant Shape Irregular
Maximum Height 18 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical
Local Conservation Status Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is a dioecious species with separate male and female individuals. The tree up to 18 m tall. Its inner bark produces yellow latex.
Foliage Its opposite, stalked leaves have thinly leathery leaf blades that are egg-shaped-elliptic with pointed tips and 7.6–19 by 3.2–8.9 cm. Its leaf margin is slightly curved backwards. Its parallel secondary leaf veins merge near the leaf margins to form an intramarginal vein.
Flowers Its flowers are nocturnal and pungent, and its parts occur in fours. Its stalked, crimson male flowers are in clusters with individual flowers up to 6.3 mm across. Its red or orange female flowers are solitary and sessile.
Fruit Its fleshy and sweet fruits are apple-like, measuring up to 8 cm across. The fruit base is deeply depressed.
Habitat It grows in lowland and montane forests up to 1,700 m altitude. It occurs locally in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Mandai, and Nee Soon Swamp Forest.
Associated Fauna Its flowers are insect-pollinated.
Cultivation It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology Latin Garcinia, commemorating Laurent Garcin, a French botanist who travelled widely in India; Latin forbesii, commemorating H. O. Forbes, a British naturalist who explored the East
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits
Others: It is a source of timber. Its fruits are edible.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Semi-Shade
Water Preference Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate Moderate

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Leathery

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Orange, Red

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Purple, Red

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 29903
Species ID 4212
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.
Species record last updated on: 15 November 2024.
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