Garcinia L.

Guttiferae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, rarely shrublets, secreting a yellow latex.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, or sometimes subopposite or whorled, petiolate, entire, coriaceous, with venation usually ± prominent, often with translucent glandular canals and brownish resin canals; petiole with a ± prominent ligulate appendage.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4, decussate (or occasionally 5, quincuncial, or 3), free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4 (5), greenish-white to yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers with androecium of 4 (5) fascicles of stamens, each with filaments free or partially or completely fused together, the fascicles usually free in African species, with anthers sometimes transversely septate; and sometimes with a whorl of sterile stamen-fascicles ("fasciclodes") alternating with the stamen-fascicles or forming a cushion in which the stamens are inserted; ovary-vestige sometimes present. Female usually with 4 (5) stamen- or staminode-fascicles, similar to those of the male flowers but smaller and with fewer members, and sometimes with fasciclodes, free or fused together in a ring at the base of the ovary; ovary globular, 2–5 (12)-locular; loculi 1-ovulate; styles absent; stigma sessile, broad, 2–5-lobed or entire, sticky. Bisexual flowers like female. Flowers terminal or axillary, solitary or in few- to many-flowered cymes, fewer in the female or bisexual plants, dioecious or polygamous, rarely bisexual.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 1–4-seeded ± fleshy berry, with tough epidermis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds large, arillate.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, with a yellow latex, polygamous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or whorled, leathery

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals (3–)4(–5)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5(–8)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers mostly with 4(–5) bundles of many stamens Female and bisexual flowers with fewer stamens and a globose, 2–5(–12)-celled ovary, each cell with 1 apical ovule; style obsolete and the broad stigma ± sessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 1–4-seeded berry, with large seeds coated in pulpy tissue.

Distribution

Some 400 species in the tropics.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A genus of about 250 species with a pantropical distribution, least diverse in the Neotropics, with at least 65 species recorded from New Guinea.

Morphology General Habit

Trees to 35 m, occasionally shrubs. Branchlets quadrangular, often wrinkling when dry, terminal bud without scales. Stipules absent

Morphology General

Latex flowing from cut bark and twigs, usually yellow, sometimes white

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, opposite, margins entire, petiolate to sessile, usually coriaceous, venation pinnate often with gland dots and/or resin canals; petioles usually strongly excavated and enclosing the terminal bud when young. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, solitary, in fascicles or short racemes; pedicel with paired bracteoles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually unisexual and plants dioecious, 4–5-merous; calyx lobes 2–6, fused at the base, often concave and thick and fleshy, persistent in fruit; petals 4–9, imbricate in bud, frequently white or yellow, free, usually conspicuous; stamens usually in bundles, anthers without apical glands, filaments stout; ovary superior, syncarpous, 2–7-locular, 1 ovule per locule, stigma expanded, conspicuous, very short, surface various. Fruit berry-like, fleshy, usually globose, smooth or sometimes ridged

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually arillate.

Ecology

Garcinia species are understorey and canopy trees found in a variety of habitats throughout New Guinea, including primary lowland rain forest, montane forest, mossy forest and savannah, but also from disturbed and secondary habitats; from sea level to c. 1250 m.

Recognition

The genus can be recognised by the pouch-like excavations on the petioles, the unisexual flowers, the persistent sepals at the base of the ovary/fruit, and the massive sessile stigma which is conspicuous even in fruit

Guttiferae, P. Bamps, N. Robson & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Trees with hollow longitudinally wrinkled branches

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, with secretory canals visible on the lower face

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual, in terminal racemes or panicles with secondary axes very reduced and sometimes accompanied by solitary or paired flowers in the axils of the upper leaves, or sometimes pseudo-axillary on short lateral branches Male flowers: stamens numerous, grouped in 5 very fleshy bundles opposite the petals; anthers subsessile in several rows on the inner face or on both faces of the bundle, longitudinally dehiscent; disc in the form of a star, with 5 ± clavate branches ending in 5 smooth glands, grooved superficially or pleated-laminated, alternating with the staminal bundles; ovary absent Female flowers: 5 rudimentary staminal bundles alternating with 5 free disc glands; ovary conical, with 5 incompletely separated locules and parietal placentas; ovules 2–28 per locule, arranged in 2 rows; stigma peltate, sessile or subsessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, imbricate, unequal

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, imbricate

sex Male

Male flowers: stamens numerous, grouped in 5 very fleshy bundles opposite the petals; anthers subsessile in several rows on the inner face or on both faces of the bundle, longitudinally dehiscent; disc in the form of a star, with 5 ± clavate branches ending in 5 smooth glands, grooved superficially or pleated-laminated, alternating with the staminal bundles; ovary absent

sex Female

Female flowers: 5 rudimentary staminal bundles alternating with 5 free disc glands; ovary conical, with 5 incompletely separated locules and parietal placentas; ovules 2–28 per locule, arranged in 2 rows; stigma peltate, sessile or subsessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry, often very large

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds arillate.