Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Garcinia livingstonei - African Mangosteen

Edible Portion: Fruit, Leaves, Gum

A slow growing evergreen shrub. It can grow to 5-10 m high and spread to 5 m wide. It has a twisted trunk. Most branches come out at right angles to the stem. The leaves are tough and leathery. They are 10-15 cm long and with white veins. They are glossy and dark green. The leaves come out in whorls of three. Fruit are about 5 cm across. They have a thin skin, are bright orange and usually have 2 seeds inside. There is a layer of orange pulp around these large seeds. The flesh is edible. The fruit grow on mature wood.