Garcinia oliveri is a cousin species of the mangosteen and also bears edible fruit. This plant is also known by local names ໂມງ ([móːŋ]) in Laotian, Bứa núi in Vietnamese, and Tromoung in Khmer. It grows naturally in South-East Asia, including in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Garcinia oliveri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae
Genus: Garcinia
Species:
G. oliveri
Binomial name
Garcinia oliveri

This plant is a tree that grows up to 30 m high, with drooping branches. The leaves are large, thick, blade oblongs that are 10–27 cm long, attached to short petioles about 1 cm long. Its male flowers have 5 petals and 1 cm long stamens united into 5 bundles, while its hermaphroditic flowers have ovaries with 9–10 loculi. Its fruits are globose, about 4–5 cm in diameter, with red pericarp.[1]

In Vietnam, the plant's young leaves are used for food, such as being cooked in soup, or eaten fresh in a dish called banh xeo.

References

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  1. ^ Tanaka, Yoshitaka; Van Ke, Nguyen (2007). Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam: The Bountiful Garden. Thailand: Orchid Press. p. 65. ISBN 9745240893.