Garcinia cowa Roxb. (Clusiaceae)

Scientific name
Garcinia cowa Roxb.
Family name
Clusiaceae
Common name
Kowa ganboji (Japanese)
Local name
Chamuang
Evergreen tree, up to 20 m tall. Leaves simple, opposite, 6–15 × 2.5–6 cm, oblong, thick, glossy, length usually less than 3 times width, tips blunt or slightly pointed; petiole c. 1 cm. Inflorescence a cluster of one to a few flowers, axillary, flower unisexual. Male flowers without stigma, stamens in a single cuboidal mass. Female flowers with 4–8 ridged, shallow stigmas. Fruit subglobose, 2.5–6 cm, green when young, dull orange or yellow at maturity, with 5–8 shallow grooves near the top or lower; tip sunken, with small black persistent calyx, 4–8 segments. Seeds large, 3-angled.
Traditional medicinal use
Functionality
Functional constituents
Common in most lowland forest types, including tropical evergreen and deciduous forests, as well as low sand dunes near beaches, throughout Thailand. Occasionally grown in backyard gardens for its edible young leaves. Propagated by seed sowing. Young leaves may be harvested after 3 years.
Young leaves are cooked in tom moo chamuang (pork curry), a popular dish in the south-eastern provinces of Thailand, as well as in various fish dishes.
Fruits
Plants
Leaves