Garcinia humilis

Garcinia humilis

The achacha or achachairú (Garcinia humilis (Vahl) C.D.Adams) is an arboreal cuttlefish belonging to the Clusiaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Theales Order,
Family Clusiaceae,
Genus Garcinia,
G. humilis species.
The term is basionym:
– Mammea humilis Vahl.
The terms are synonyms:
– Garcinia lateriflora (L.) C.D.Adams;
– Garcinia lateriflora (L.) C.D.Adams ex Alain;
– Malpighia mitis Rchb.;
– Malpighia mitis Rchb. ex Griseb.;
– Mammea humilis Vahl;
– Mammea humilis var. macrophylla C.Mart.;
– Mammea humilis var. macrophylla C.Mart. ex Duss, 1897;
– Mammea humilis var. plumieri Griseb.;
– Mammea humilis var. vahlii Griseb.;
– Mammea lateriflora (L.) Griseb.;
– Rheedia americana Christm.;
– Rheedia americana hort.;
– Rheedia americana hort. ex Steud.;
– Rheedia humilis (Vahl) Kosterm.;
– Rheedia lateriflora L.;
– Rheedia sessiliflora Planch. ex Vesque;
– Rheedia sieberi Choisy.

Etymology –
The term Garcinia of the genus was dedicated by Linnaeus to the French physician, botanist and naturalist Laurent Garcin (1683-1752) who herbalized in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Arabia.
The specific epithet humilis derives from the Latin and has ancient roots. It is formed from the noun “humus”, meaning “earth”, and the suffix “-ilis”, meaning “relating to” or “possessing the qualities of”.
Originally, the term “humilis” was used to describe something that was “close to the ground” or “low elevation”. This connection to the land and low physical position helped develop the later meaning of ‘humble’ as ‘modest’ or ‘unpretentious’.
The word “humilis” is therefore associated with the idea of modesty, simplicity and lack of pride. In its etymology, it recalls the idea of being rooted in the earth, of being connected with nature and not seeking a high or superior position to others.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Garcinia humilis is a small tree that grows in the southern part of the Amazon Basin in central Bolivia, in the northern area of South America, in Guyana and in Panama, the Caribbean, Trinidad, Haiti and Jamaica. It has recently been planted on a commercial scale in Burdekin, Australia and Indonesia.
Its natural habitat is that of sheltered wooded areas and mixed forests, often on limestone rock, at altitudes between 150 and 900 metres.

Description –
Garcinia humilis is a tree that grows up to a height of six to seven meters.
It has a dense, bushy canopy and the trunk is straight, smooth and black and has horizontal branches.
The leaves are persistent, glossy dark green, opposite and simple.
The flowers are small and white or light yellow in color.
The fruit is a small spherical berry which has an average diameter of about 3-5 centimeters. The peel of the fruit is yellow-orange, smooth and thin. The pulp is translucent, juicy and with a sweet-acid taste.
Inside the pulp are one to three hard seeds.

Cultivation –
Garcinia humilis is a highly adaptable plant that can grow in different types of soil, however preferring well-drained ones rich in organic substances. It requires warm, humid weather to thrive and produces fruit throughout the year, although the main harvest season is usually November to February.
It is also considered a very interesting ornamental and fruit bearing plant. Its fruits are very popular in the regions where it is grown and are gaining notoriety in other countries as well. The plant is also valued for its disease resistance and low maintenance requirements.
This plant is spreading in other countries such as Australia and Indonesia even if, according to some authors, it has not been able to determine with certainty whether the plant in Australia is really Garcinia humilis, but probably that it is Garcinia brasilensis or Garcinia gardneriana (which in turn may be nothing but a synonym of Garcinia brasilensis). The confusion appears to be based on two synonyms: Rheedia lateriflora (an earlier name for Garcinia humilis) and Rheedia laterifolia (an illegitimate name applied to Garcinia gardneriana).
Incidentally, there is disagreement among botanists about the correct placement of this species, with some recognizing the genus Rheedia and placing this species in that genus as Rheedia lateriflora (here treated as a synonym).
In the areas of origin the tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Achacha is in season from November to January in Bolivia and from December to mid-March in Australia.
The propagation takes place by seed but the growth from the seed is rather slow and can take even 6 months or more.

Customs and Traditions –
Garcinia humilis is commonly known in its places of origin as achachairú or achacha.
It grows naturally only in the floodplain region of Bolivia. The Bolivian municipality of Porongo (in the province of Andrés Ibáñez) is called the “capital of achachairú” due to the importance and quantity that is harvested in this place.
The fruit of the achachairú has an intense golden color that turns reddish orange when ripe. It is oval in shape and reaches up to 6 cm in length by 4 cm in diameter. It usually has one big brown seed, in a bigger fruit two – three brown seeds can be found.
The taste is described as both bitter and sweet. The rind is hard and bitter and can be split off the edible part of the fruit attached to the seed with a knife or teeth. The Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has found that the fruit keeps well for 4-6 weeks, provided it is kept out of the refrigerator. It is recommended to store fruit at a temperature between 15 and 20°C, with a high relative humidity. If these conditions are not met, the fruit will wilt. Although some people have found that storing it in the egg basket of a refrigerator doesn’t harm the fruit in any way.
The fruits of this plant are eaten raw or to make drinks and preserves.
Although there is no medical evidence, the traditional uses of the inedible parts of the Garcinia humilis fruit (seeds, rind, etc.) are: In Bolivia, the rinds are used as a hunger suppressant. The resulting honey is used for medicinal purposes. In Bolivia it is sold for 10 times the normal price of honey. The inside of the skin is used to rub marks (such as warts) on the skin to reduce them.
The shiny orange rinds of the achacha can be placed in a blender with water. Once blended and then strained to remove all solids, this liquid can be diluted and sweetened to your taste, then chilled for a refreshing summer drink.
In medicinal use, the sap is applied to the skin for its healing properties.
Among other uses, the tree is reported to be a source of a hard wax.
A kind of waxy resin exudes from the branches of this plant. It has a pleasant aroma and serves as fuel for making torches.
The dried and pulverized gummy resin obtained from the fruit, peel and seed is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner.
An extract of the peel of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a hair and skin conditioner and a masking agent.
The reddish wood is used for common carpentry.

Method of Preparation –
The achachairú fruit is highly prized for its refreshing flavor and unique flavor profile, reminiscent of a combination of lemon, pineapple and tangerine. The fruit is eaten fresh and can be used in the preparation of juices, ice creams, jams and desserts. It is also possible to use the peel to make infusions and drinks.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/85690392/original.jpeg
– https://cdn.plantatlas.org/img/specimens/USF/280148.jpg

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.