Guttiferae

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Guttiferae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Guttiferae (from the Latin signifying drop-bearing, in allusion to the resinous exudation). Garcinia Family. Fig. 39. Trees or shrubs, with opposite or whorled, rarely alternate leaves: flowers regular, usually some bisexual and others unisexual on the same plant, rarely all bisexual; styles usually united and stigmas sometimes shield-shaped,—otherwise as in the Hypericaceae, to which family it is closely related, and with which the Guttiferae is united by many authors. Thirty-five genera and about 370 species inhabit the tropical regions of both hemispheres. Clusia (America), with 80 species, and Garcinia (Old World), with 150 species, are the largest genera. Many species are tropical trees of majestic size and handsome form, useful for timber. The Clusias are mostly epiphytic shrubs with aerial roots and evergreen leaves. The Guttiferae yield a yellow or greenish resinous juice when incisions are made. Gamboge is an intensely yellow resinous pigment extracted from Garcinia Morella (Ceylon). It is also a powerful purgative. The blackish bitter juice of Clusia rosea (West Indies) is also a purgative. The juice of species of Clusia (West Indies) may be used as a varnish. The resin of C. flava (hog-gum) is a wound remedy. Wounded swine smear themselves with the gum by rubbing against the plant, hence the name. The pulpy fruit of Garcinia Mangostana ("mangosteen" of the Moluccas), and Mammea americana (West Indies) are delicious to many people. There are 3 or 4 genera in cultivation in warm America: Garcinia including the Mangosteen, cultivated in the West Indies, and the Gamboge Tree cultivated in the West Indies and Florida; Calophyllum, cultivated in southern Florida and southern California; Mammea americana (Mammee Apple or St. Domingo Apricot), cultivated in southern Florida and southern California. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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