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Kandis (Garcinia xanthochymus)

Dlium Kandis (Garcinia xanthochymus)

Kandis (Garcinia xanthochymus) is a species of evergreen tree in the Clusiaceae family. It grows to a height of 15–30 meters, featuring a pyramidal crown, an upright main trunk, and horizontal branches. The bark is grayish-black, and the tree exudes a yellow or brownish-yellow sap.

G. xanthochymus has narrow, lanceolate, dark green leaves measuring 12–24 cm in length. Its fruit is somewhat rounded with a pointed tip, reaches a diameter of 9 cm, and ranges in color from pale orange to deep yellow. A variety found in South Sumatra produces round fruit with an indented tip; when ripe, it turns brownish-yellow and contains a small amount of yellow to brownish-yellow sap.

Young fruits are bright green. Each fruit consists of an outer rind and 4–5 seeds, each encased in pulp. The plant thrives in shaded, humid environments. Flowering typically occurs following a sufficiently long dry season (at least three months), and the tree may bloom twice a year.

High-quality fruit is brownish-red in color. Fruit that has turned black indicates an incomplete drying process—it was stored while still retaining moisture. The fruit has a sour taste, while the rind is astringent.

Ripe fruits are thinly sliced and sun-dried for several days until completely dehydrated, allowing them to be stored for years. Once dried, they are commonly used as a culinary seasoning, an ingredient for jams, or an addition to curries. Fresh fruit is often used to make pickles. In Sumatran cuisine, it is frequently used in dishes such as rendang and various pindang (sour-savory soup/stew) preparations made with fish or meat. Additionally, the plant serves as a source of natural dye.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae
Tribe: Garcinieae
Genus: Garcinia L. in Sp. Pl.: 443 (1753)
Section: Xanthochymus
Species: Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.f. ex T.Anderson in J.D.Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 1: 269 (1874)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Garcinia pictoria (Roxb.) Dunn in J.S.Gamble, Fl. Madras: 74 (1915)
Garcinia roxburghii Kurz in Prelim. Rep. Forest Pegu, App. A: xiii (1875)
Stalagmitis pictoria (Roxb.) G.Don in Gen. Hist. 1: 620 (1831)
Xanthochymus pictorius Roxb. in Pl. Coromandel 2: 51 (1805)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Garcinia tinctoria (Choisy) W.Wight in Bull. Bur. Pl. Industr. U.S.D.A. 137: 50 (1909)
Stalagmitis tinctoria (Choisy) Paxton in Pocket Bot. Dict.: 301 (1840)
Xanthochymus tinctorius Choisy in A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 562 (1824)

PUBLICATIONS

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Cooper, W.E. (2013). A taxonomic revision of Garcinia L. (Clusiaceae) in Australia, including four new species from tropical Queensland. Austrobaileya 9: 1-29.

Dassanayake (ed.) (1980). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon 1: 1-508. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. PVT. LTD., New Delhi, Calcutta.

Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1979). A geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae. Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 15: 41-295.

Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS Genera starting with letter G: 1-40325.

Grierson, A.J.C. & Long, D.G. (1984). Flora of Bhutan 1(2): 189-462. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Hara, H., Stearn, W.T. & Williams, H.J. (1979). An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal 2: 1-220. Trustees of British Museum, London.

Lê, T.C. (2003). Danh lục các loài thực vật Việt Nam 2: 1-1203. Hà Nội : Nhà xuất bản Nông nghiệp.

Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.

Mohanan, N., Shemeer, P.S. & Sabu, T. (2023). Taxonomic revision of Garcinia (Clusiaceae) in India. Rheedea 33: 101-158.

Newman, M., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2007). A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR: 1-394. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh.

Ngernsaengsaruay C, Chanton P, Chaiprasongsuk M, Leksungnoen N. (2023). http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16572. PeerJ.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.

Sarmah, K.K. & Borthakur, S.K. (2009). A checklist of angiospermic plants of Manas national park in Assam, India. Pleione 3: 190-200.

Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 13: 1-548. Science Press (Beijing) & Missouri Botanical Garden Press (St. Louis).

VERNACULAR NAME

Assamese: Dampel, Tamal hindi tepor, Tepor tenga
Bengali: ডেফল - চালাটা Defol, Chalata
Chinese (simplified): 人面果 - 仁稔 - 大叶藤黄
Chinese (traditional): 人面果 - 仁稔 - 蛋樹
English: Kandis, False mangosteen, Yellow mangosteen, Himalayan garcinia, Sour mangosteen, Egg tree, Gamboge, Gamboge tree, Camboge, Mundu
Finnish: Keltamangostani
Garo: Aruak
Hindi: Dampel tamal, Jharambi, Tamal, Tumul
Indonesian: Asam kandis
Japanese: タマゴノキ
Java: Kandis
Kannada: Devajarige, Devagarike, Devangi, Gansargi, Hirekanagilu, Jevanige, Gurchi, Nerale maavu, Deevarige, Kaadujeeraka, Chikka kamaruka, Jaarige, Devajaarige
Malayalam: Anavaya, Andoor mavu, Bhaviyam, Monthanpuli, Pinar, Thamala, Vayirapuli, Samudrapacca
Manipuri: Heirangoi, Heirangkhoi, Heirang goi
Marathi: Dharambo, Jhrambi, Ota
Mizo: Tuaihabet, Theihmuisawi
Nepali: चुन्याल Chunyal
Oria: Satyamba, Sitambu, Rajambo, Cheoro, Chiuri, Chinyara
Oriya: Tapinchha
Portuguese: Mangostão-amarelo
Russian: Гарциния красильная
Sanskrit: Bhavishya, Kalakhanda, Kusumodar
Taiwan: 蛋樹
Tamil: பச்சிலை - பச்சிலை - பச்சிலை Paccilai, Pachilai, Pacchilai
Telugu: Cikatimranu, Ivarumamidi, Memaditamalamu, Sikatimramu, Tamalamu, Iwaramamidi, Ivarumidi, Sikathimramu, Lolluri, Evaru madi

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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