Garcinia brasiliensis aka Brazilian Monkey Fruit

Garcinia brasiliensis is a fruit tree that stays green year-round. It belongs to the Clusiaceae family. People call it bacupari and pacura. Some sources use the name Rheedia brasiliensis. Kew gives its native range as two states in Brazil. These are Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. Other accounts give a wider range in South America. This includes nearby countries and more parts of Brazil. It grows in moist woods, beside rivers, and on floodplains. It also grows in coastal woods and woods regrowing after disturbance.

Garden sources give a height near 20 feet [6 metres]. They give a spread of about 16 feet [5 metres]. Broader accounts report heights of 43 feet [13 metres]. The crown is dense and round. Some trees have a shape like a pyramid. The trunk is round in cross-section, with rough bark. The leaves feel smooth and have a tough, leathery feel. The tree grows slowly. Young trees take time to settle after planting.

The egg-shaped fruit turns orange-yellow and has a tough skin. This thick skin bends and peels off with ease. White pulp wraps the seeds and lets some light through. It tastes a little tart, with a flavour like mangosteen. People eat the pulp fresh or make jam with it. Local people eat wild fruit. Growers also sell the fruit in markets. In Brazil, people grow the tree in home gardens for fruit. Its crown stays green, which adds to its garden value.

The tree needs the warmth and moisture of the tropics. It grows in full sun or light shade. Full sun helps it grow and fruit better. It likes moist soil and copes with some flooding. It grows in sand, loam, and clay. Soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. Sow ripe seed soon in a nursery bed or pot. Give the seeds some shade. Seeds may sprout within 15–25 days but do not store long.

People use the wood for fuel and simple rural building work. The wood is heavy, with coarse grain, and may rot. Reports describe seed-oil poultices: dressings placed on the skin. They also describe other uses in folk medicine. Reports say pulp infusions can have a narcotic effect. Its use as food does not prove safety as medicine. The sources list no known hazards. They give no detailed review of its toxic effects. They name no specific pest or disease problems. Useful Tropical Plants reports a 2019 assessment of Least Concern.