 Rheedia brasiliensis, Rheedia laterifolia, Garcinia laterifolia
Family: Clusiaceae / Guttiferae
Bakupari, Camboriu
Origin: Brazil
small tree 10-20 ft, full sun, semi-shade, regular
water.
The translucent subacid white pulp has an excellent flavor; one
of the best fruits of its genus. The very attractive tree is
pyramidal; is rich in yellow latex. The leaves are short-petioled,
ovate, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, narrowed at the base, blunt or
slightly pointed at the apex, and leathery. The flowers, profuse in
axillary clusters, are polygamous. The fruit, ovate, pointed at the
apex, may be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in (3.2-4 cm) long, with orange-yellow,
pliable, leathery, tough skin, 1/8 in (3
 mm) thick and easily
removed. The aril-like pulp is white, translucent, soft, subacid, of
excellent flavor, and encloses 2 rounded seeds. The tree grows wild
in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil and adjacent
Paraguay; is rarely cultivated. It blooms in December and matures
its fruit in January and February. The ripe fruit is mostly used in
making sweetmeats or jam. The seeds contain 8 to 9 percent oil (by
weight) which is used in Brazil in poultices on wounds, whitlows,
tumors and, externally, over an enlarged liver. An infusion of the
pulp has a narcotic action with an effect like that of nicotine. |
