Clusiaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Garcinia travancorica

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Garcinia travancorica is a large tree. The tree is a source of 'gamboge', a gum-resin with a wide range of uses that is commonly harvested from several species in this genus and traded internationally. The habitat of this species has come under increasing threat. Large areas have been exposed to fires, grazing, the establishment of commercial plantations and cutting for fuel wood. As a result, wild populations of the plant have declined and so it has been designated as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - southern India in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

HabitatMargins of submontane evergreen forest[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Forests at elevations of 900 - 1,500 metres[ 146 Title A Manual of Indian Timbers. Publication Author Gamble. J. S. Publisher Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Year 1972 ISBN - Description First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader. ].