Garcinia, one of the main ingredients of South Indian dishes, grows in the evergreen and shola forests of
Western Ghats.
It is a medium-sized tree with a rounded crown and horizontal or drooping branches. Leaves, dark green, vary from elliptic to obovate. Fruits, yellow or red, are ovoid with six to eight grooves. Seeds are surrounded by a succulent aril.
It contains 30% acid including hydroxy-citric acid, camboginol, and cambogin. Garcinia is used in Kerala as a condiment for flavoring curries in place of tamarind or lime.
It is also known as Vrikshamla and Kankusta.
