What is "garcinia"

Garcinia \Gar*cin"i*a\, n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of plants, including the mangosteen tree ( Garcinia Mangostana), found in the islands of the Indian Archipelago; -- so called in honor of Dr. Garcin.

n. mangosteen (of the genus ''Garcinia'')

Garcinia is a plant genus of the family Clusiaceae native to Asia, Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia. The number of species is highly disputed, with various sources recognizing between 50 and about 300. Commonly, the plants in this genus are called saptrees, mangosteens (which may also refer specifically to the purple mangosteen, G. mangostana), garcinias or, ambiguously, " monkey fruit".

Many species are threatened by habitat destruction, and at least G. cadelliana from South Andaman Island is almost or even completely extinct already.

The fruits are a food source for several animals, such as the archduke butterflies (Lexias) of tropical eastern Asia which relish the sap of overripe mangosteens.