Garcinia mannii

Garcinia mannii is a dioecious and evergreen flowering tree in the family Clusiaceae (Guttiferae).^[2] The specific epithet (mannii) honors German botanist Gustav Mann.

Garcinia mannii
Leaves and petioles of the Garcinia mannii tree
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Clusiaceae
Genus:	Garcinia
Species:	G. mannii
Binomial name
Garcinia mannii Oliv. (1868)
Synonyms
Garcinia rubriflora Engl. Garcinia obanensis Baker fil.

Distribution

Garcinia mannii is native to southern Guinea and Liberia east to Nigeria and south to Gabon and western Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[3]

Description

Young Garcinia mannii tree at the Limbe Botanical Garden in Cameroon

Its leaves are elliptical in shape and slightly rounded, and the flowers have four red petals with yellow-orange centers. They occur on long stems in clusters of 1–2. Mature trees are often densely branched, with the foliage often concealing the trunk. The branches often appear relatively close to the ground. The bark is brown in color and relatively smooth.^[3]

Uses

Due to the chemical composition of the plant, it is used as a chewing stick across its native range.^[4]

See also

• List of Garcinia species