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Nomenclature etc. CLUSIACEAE (GUTTIFERAE). Only species native to tropical Asia. Trade and local names: asam gelugor, bebata, bruas, lulai, manggishutan, sikop (MY); binukau, bunog, haras, taklang-anak (PH); tai chua, trai lí, may bao, búta, hông pháp (VN); taung-thale, parawa, madaw (MM); mu zhu zi (CN).
Description based on 7 specimens. Tree. Geographic distribution: Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indomalesia.
General. Heartwood basically brown, red, yellow (quite variable, reddish brown in some species, yellowish in others). Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour (but usually somewhat lighter). Density 0.6–0.8 g/cm³.
Vessels. Vessels present. Wood diffuse porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows or in radial rows of 4 or more. Average tangential vessel diameter (60–)110–170(–225) µm. Average number of vessels/mm² (3–)6–9(–12). Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) (2–)3–5(–8) µm (pit diameter variable between species: 2–3 µm in Garcinia celebica and G. dulcis; 3–5 µm in G. cowa and G. fagraeoides; 6–8 µm in G. multiflora ). Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses absent. Other deposits present (yellowish).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness to very thick-walled. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded or not banded. Bands marginal (or seemingly marginal) or not marginal (or seemingly marginal). Bands fine or coarse. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty, or vasicentric, or aliform, or confluent. Aliform parenchyma of the lozenge type. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per strand: (3–)4–7. Type, distribution and quantity of axial parenchyma in the genus Garcinia are extremely variable; the most common type are continuous wavy bands, narrow or wide (marginal and not marginal).
Rays. Rays (6–)7–10 per tangential mm, multiseriate, (1–)2–7(–10) cells wide. Rays of two distinct sizes, or of one size. Height of large rays commonly 500 to 1000 µm, or commonly over 1000 µm. Rays composed of two or more cell types (heterocellular). Heterocellular rays with square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows, mostly 1 marginal row of upright or square cells or mostly 2–4 marginal rows of upright or square cells. Sheath cells absent. Tile cells absent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals present (in some species, for example Garcinia cowa) or absent, oriented radially. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Cambial variants. Included phloem absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in ray cells or axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing ray cells upright and/or square or procumbent, upright and/or square ray cells not chambered. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells not chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica present (in some species, for example Garcinia celebica) or not observed, as grains; in rays cells.
Illustrations. • Transverse section 1. banded and confluent axial parenchyma well developed. Garcinia celebica. • Transverse section 2. banded axial parenchyma poorly developed. Garcinia dulcis. • Tangential section 1. rays almost exclusively multiseriate. Garcina dulcis. • Tangential section 2. Garcinia celebica. rays of two distinct sizes. • Tangential section 3. Garcinia cowa. rays broad and high, with radial intercellular canals (IC). IC. IC. • Radial section 1. Garcinia celebica. • Radial section 2. Garcinia dulcis. • Crystals. Garcinia dulcis. Garcinia fagraeoides. prismatic crystals in rays (left) or axial parenchyma (right, semi-polarized light). • Silica. AP. Garcinia dulcis. small silica particles in rays and axial parenchyma (AP), only in some species.
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2000 onwards. Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Version: 9th April 2019. delta-intkey.com’.
