Garcinia sopsopia Mabb.
Creators: name: Ngernsaengsaruay, Chatchai
name: Chanton, Pichet
name: Boonthasak, Weereesa
name: Mianmit, Nittaya
name: Kaewgrajang, Tharnrat
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Malpighiales
Clusiaceae
Garcinia
Garcinia sopsopia

description: Garcinia sopsopia (Buch.-Ham.) Mabb., Taxon 26 (5–6): 529. 1977.
Figs 1, 2, 3
≡ Oxycarpus sopsopia Buch.-Ham., Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 5 (2): 345. 1826. Type. lectotype (designated by Mabberley (1977)), India, Assam, Goalpara, “ habitat in sylvis Camrupae orientalis ”, 1 Jun 1808, F. Buchanan-Hamilton 1120, E image! [E 00438015]. Fig. 4 A.
= Stalagmitis paniculata G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 621. 1831.
= Garcinia paniculata (G. Don) Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 626. 1832.
= Garcinia bobee-cowa Choisy, Descr. Guttif. Inde: 35. 1849.
= Stalagmitis boobicowa G. Don, Gen. Hist. 1: 621. 1831, nom. nud. Type. lectotype (designated here), India, cultivated in Calcutta Botanical Garden (H. B. C.) (originally from Sylhet, Bangladesh), ♂ fl., s. d., Wallich Cat. 4857 B, G image! [G 00726286]; isolectotypes: CAL image! [CAL 0000065167]; isolectotype: K! [K 001104077]. Fig. 4 B.
= Garcinia rhumicowa Choisy, Descr. Guttif. Inde: 35. 1849. Type. lectotype (designated here), Bangladesh, Sylhet, ♂ fl., s. d., F. De Silva, Wallich Cat. 4858 B, G image! [G 00726295]; isolectotypes: BR image! [BR 0000036486748], CAL image! [CAL 0000065165], K! [K 000677604, K 001104080], P images! [P 04701880, P 04701886] (cited as “ Garcinia bhumicowa Roxb. ” on the label, as a nom. nud.). Fig. 5 A.
= Garcinia mckeaniana Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1924 (3): 84. 1924. Type. lectotype (designated here), Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep, ♂ fl., A. F. G. Kerr 3470, K! [K 000677701]; isolectotypes: BM image! [BM 000611632], P! [P 05061534]), syn. nov. Fig. 5 B.
Description.
Habit evergreen trees, dioecious, 8–20 m tall, 50–120 (– 150) cm gbh; exudate pale yellow, sticky; branches decussate, horizontal or nearly horizontal; young branchlets green, 4 - angular to slightly 4 - angular, glabrous. Bark brown or reddish-brown, smooth or slightly rough; inner bark red or reddish-pink. Terminal bud concealed between the bases of the uppermost pair of petioles. Leaves decussate; lamina elliptic, elliptic-oblong, narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate-obovate, 9.5–23 × 4–10.5 cm, apex acuminate or acute, base cuneate, sometimes obtuse, margin entire or repand, subcoriaceous, slightly bullate, dark green above, paler below, glabrous and shiny on both surfaces, midrib slightly raised (proximal part) and flattened (distal part) above, raised below, secondary veins 8–12 each side, 0.7–2 cm apart from each other, curving towards the margin and connected in distinct loops and united into an intramarginal vein, flattened above, raised below, intersecondary veins usually absent, tertiary veins scalariform, veinlets reticulate, visible on both surfaces, with scattered brown gland dots on both surfaces, interrupted long wavy lines (glandular wavy lines, also called exudate containing canals) present, of differing lengths, running across the secondary veins to the apex, visible on both surfaces especially on the lower surface of dry leaves; petiole green, 0.9–1.8 cm long, 1.2–4 mm diam., not grooved, glabrous, with a basal appendage clasping the branchlet; in fresh leaves, brittle when crushed; in young leaves, brownish-red, turning pale green, glossy. Inflorescences terminal, a thyrse with many to numerous flowers, 4–12 cm long, glabrous; bracts early caducous, triangular, 1–1.8 × 1–1.7 mm; peduncle 1.2–2.8 cm long, 1–3 mm diam., 4 - angular; rachis 3.6–8 cm long, 1–2.7 mm diam., 4 - angular. Flowers unisexual, 4 - merous; bracteoles early caducous; sepals and petals decussate, concave, glabrous. Flower buds green, subglobose to globose, 2.8–5 mm diam. Staminate flowers in a much-branched thyrse (3.5–11.5 cm wide), with decussate branches, fully open flowers 0.9–1.6 cm diam.; pedicel green, 1.7–3.8 mm long, 0.5–2 mm diam., 4 - angular; sepals 4, green, thinly coriaceous; outer sepals broadly ovate or ovate, 1.8–3 × 1–2 mm, apex rounded; inner sepals broadly elliptic, elliptic or suborbicular, 2–3.2 × 1.3–2.3 mm, apex rounded; the outer pair slightly smaller than the inner pair; petals 4, pale yellow to yellow, slightly thick and fleshy, oblong, 3–5.8 × 2.6–4.7 mm, subequal (thicker and longer than sepals), apex rounded, gradually reflexed after anthesis; stamens numerous, united into a single central 4 - sided or weakly 4 - lobed bundle surrounding a pistillode, bundle 3–4 × 2.6–3.8 mm; filaments very short; anthers 4 - thecous, small, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode creamish-white, mushroom-shaped, 1.3–2.7 mm long; rudimentary ovary small; sterile stigma, sessile, slightly convex, radiate, shallowly 5–7 - lobed, 0.5–1 mm diam., papillate. Pistillate flowers in a short-branched thyrse, fully open flowers same as or slightly larger than staminate flowers; pedicel green, short and thick (slightly shorter and thicker than in staminate flowers), 4 - angular; sepals and petals same as or slightly larger than in staminate flowers; staminodes absent; pistil mushroom-shaped, ovary globose or subglobose, 2–3 mm diam., glabrous, 5–7 - locular; stigma sessile, convex, radiate, shallowly 5–7 - lobed, papillate. Fruits berries, green, turning bright yellow, when ripe, glabrous and glaucous, cut fruits with a sticky yellow exudate, globose or subglobose, 4.5–7 × 4.3–6.3 cm, sometimes oblique, asymmetrical, without or with a short, thick beak and concave at the apex, with 6–8 longitudinal sutures, pericarp fleshy, 0.7–1.2 cm thick; persistent stigma dark brown or blackish-brown, 2.5–4 mm diam., indistinctly lobed, papillate; persistent sepals 2–4.5 × 3–5.7 mm, larger than in flowering material; fruiting stalk short and thick, 3–4.5 mm long, 5–7 mm diam. Seeds 3–7, sometimes aborted (1–2), dark brown mottled with paler irregular lines, semi-ellipsoid, 1.8–3 × 0.8–1.2 cm, rounded at both ends, with a yellow fleshy pulp.
Distribution.
India (Assam, Meghalaya), Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand. The distribution record of Garcinia sopsopia was published without coordinates, but it includes a textual description of its location (Fig. 6).
Distribution in Thailand.
Northern: Chiang Mai, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet; North-eastern: Loei. Fig. 6.
Habitat and ecology.
This species is found in lower montane rain forests, lower montane pine-oak forests and dry evergreen forests, sometimes along streams, at elevations of 500–1,550 m a. m. s. l.
Phenology.
Flowering in September to January; fruiting in March to June (August).
Conservation status.
Garcinia sopsopia is widely distributed from India, Nepal to Myanmar and Vietnam. It is known from many localities and has a large EOO of 1,779,647.52 km 2 and an AOO of 128 km 2. In Thailand, this species is known to be naturally distributed in the northern and the north-eastern regions and has an EOO 79,178.24 km 2 and an AOO of 56 km 2. Therefore, we consider the conservation assessment here as Least Concern (LC).
Etymology.
The specific epithet of Garcinia sopsopia is derived from “ Sopsopiya Bengalensium ” (Buchanan-Hamilton 1826; Mabberley 1977). The specific epithet of G. paniculata is a Latin word meaning with a branched-racemose or cymose inflorescence (Gledhill 2002). However, from our examination of specimens, the staminate inflorescence of this species is a terminal, many-branched thyrses and the pistillate inflorescence is a terminal, short-branched thyrses. The specific epithet of G. mckeaniana honors James W. McKean, MD (1860–1949). He was an American doctor and missionary who pioneered leprosy work in Thailand, including the construction of the Chiang Mai Leprosarium in 1908. He began his work in Chiang Mai in 1889 and remained there for his entire missionary life, carrying out general medical and evangelical work (https://leprosyhistory.org/database/person99).
Vernacular names.
Ma da (มะดะ) (Uttaradit, from the specimen P. Kanchanapan 30); Boobee-Kowa, Bubi Kowa (India); Sochopa-tenga, Sosopatenga (Assam); Sopsopia garcinia, Sopsop garcinia (English).
Uses.
The fruits (pericarp and fleshy pulp surrounding the seeds), young shoots and leaves are edible and have a sour taste. In India, it is often cultivated for its edible fruits and the leaves are also said to be edible (Jones 1980; Singh 1993). In Assam, the ripe fruits are eaten raw (Baruah et al. 2021), the fleshy pulp being used for making refreshing drinks (Brahma et al. 2022). The leaves are used to treat roundworm (Baruah et al. 2021). Moderately hard wood is used for house construction and firewood (Baruah et al. 2021). In Vietnam, five xanthones were isolated and identified from Garcinia sopsopia for the first time. Garcinone E and bannanxanthone E displayed a significant inhibitory effect against the growth of bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (Nguyen et al. 2020).
Lectotypifications.
Garcinia paniculata was named by William Roxburgh, found in a few gardens about Calcutta, was originally from Sylhet (“ Silhet ” or “ Sillet ”), where the species is indigenous and known to the natives by the name Boobee-Kowa (Roxburgh 1832). He did not choose a holotype nor did he mention the collector number and the name of the herbaria where the specimen was housed. He also did not provide a description or diagnosis; later, the name G. paniculata was validly described by Choisy (1849). The name G. paniculata has been lectotypified in a first-step by Maheshwari (1964), who cited “ Type: ex Sylhet, E. Pakistan, cult. in Indian Botanic Garden, Calcutta ”, without citing a specimen or herbarium and in a second-step by Mohanan et al. (2023) using the specimen Wallich 4857, noted locality as “ HBC (Calcutta Herbarium) ” at CAL [CAL 0000065167], with an isolectotype at K [K 001104077]. However, we located the specimen Wallich Cat. 4857 representing three different materials, which are distinguished by 4857 A, 4857 B and 4857 C (in The Wallich Catalogue). The specimen Wallich Cat. 4857 A (K [K 001104076]) is from Calcutta Botanical Garden (H. B. C.), Buchanan-Hamilton’s Herbarium; Wallich Cat. 4857 B (CAL [CAL 0000065167], G [G 00726286], K [K 001104077]) is from H. B. C.; and Wallich Cat. 4857 C (BR [BR 0000036486724], G [G 00726273] and K [K 001104078]) is from Sylhet (“ Silhet ” or “ Sillet ”) and, following Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), these are syntypes. We think Maheshwari’s and Mohanan et al. ’ s typifications are mistaken. Since the name G. paniculata was validly described by Choisy (1849), a Swiss botanist working in Geneve, it is more plausible that he analysed material from G. Therefore, the specimen Wallich Cat. 4857 B at G [G 00726286], is selected here as the lectotype, with isolectotypes at CAL [CAL 0000065167] and K [K 001104077], following Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018).
Garcinia rhumicowa was named by Jacques Denys Choisy, based on the specimen Wallich Cat. 4858 collected from Calcutta Botanical Garden (H. B. C.) and Sylhet (“ Sillet ”) (Choisy 1849). We located the specimen Wallich Cat. 4858 which represents two different materials collected from two different localities and which are distinguished by 4858 A and 4858 B (in The Wallich Catalogue). The specimen Wallich Cat. 4858 A (CAL [CAL 0000065164, CAL 0000065168], K [K 001104079]) is from Calcutta Botanical Garden and Wallich Cat. 4858 B (BR [BR 0000036486748], CAL [CAL 0000065165], G [G 00726295], K [K 000677604, K 001104080], P [P 04701880, P 04701886]) is from Sylhet and, following Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), these are syntypes. It is more plausible that Jacques Denys Choisy (1799–1859), a Swiss botanist working in Geneve, analysed material from G. The specimen Wallich Cat. 4858 B at G [G 00726295] should be considered as a lectotype, with isolectotypes at BR [BR 0000036486748], CAL [CAL 0000065165], K [K 000677604, K 001104080] and P [P 04701880, P 04701886], following Art. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018).
Garcinia mckeaniana was described by William Grant Craib, who cited two gatherings, A. F. G. Kerr 3470 and A. F. G. Kerr 3504 collected from Doi Suthep, at elevations of 1,200 –1,550 m a. m. s. l. (Craib 1924). He did not mention the name of the herbaria where the materials were housed and, following Art. 9.6 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018), these are syntypes. We located the materials A. F. G. Kerr 3470 (1,200 m a. m. s. l.) at BM [BM 000611632], K [K 000677701] and P [P 05061534] and A. F. G. Kerr 3504 (1,550 m a. m. s. l.) at BM [BM 000611633] and K [K 000677702]. The material A. F. G. Kerr 3470 at K [K 000677701] is better preserved and more complete than the others and is designated here as the lectotype, with isolectotypes at BM [BM 000611632] and P [P 05061534], following Arts. 9.3 and 9.12 of the ICN (Turland et al. 2018).
Notes.
According to previous studies (e. g. Anderson (1874); Kurz (1877); Craib (1924); Gagnepain (1943); Maheshwari (1964); Mabberley (1977); Jones (1980); Long (1984); Singh (1993)) and based on the specimens that we examined, Garcinia mckeaniana and G. sopsopia are similar and the vegetative and reproductive characters are overlapping between the two taxa. Therefore, G. mckeaniana is not morphologically distinguishable from G. sopsopia and is treated here as a new synonym.
Garcinia sopsopia is recognised by its staminate flowers in terminal, much-branched thyrses with many to numerous flowers; pistillate flowers in terminal, short-branched thyrses (raceme-like), fewer in number of flowers than staminate; tetramerous flowers; numerous stamens (in staminate flowers) united into a single central 4 - sided or weakly 4 - lobed bundle surrounding a pistillode; the leaves with scalariform tertiary veins; and characters of fruits.
A comparison of morphological characters of Garcinia sopsopia in Thailand with previous studies is summarised in Table 1.
Additional specimens examined.
Thailand. Northern. • Chiang Mai [Doi Suthep, ♂ fl., 2 Jan 1915, A. F. G. Kerr 3504 (BM [BM 000611633], K [K 000677702]); • ibid., fl., 6 Oct 1958 (as Garcinia sp.), T. Sorensen et al. 5492 (C); • ibid., ♂ fl., 26 Dec 1987 (as G. mckeaniana), J. F. Maxwell 87-1648 (L [L 2416545]); • Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, fr., 19 Apr 1991 (as G. mckeaniana), J. F. Maxwell 91-361 (AAU, A [GH 00429134], P [P 05061535]); • Huai Khok Ma, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, fr., 8 Jun 1995 (as G. mckeaniana), S. Kopachon S 128 (CMUB); • ibid., 18 Jun 2003 (as G. mckeaniana), J. F. Maxwell et al. 4 (CMUB); • Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, between Doi Suthep Temple and Chang Khian Valley, ♂ fl., 9 Oct 1997 (as G. aff. propinqua), P. Sidisunthorn & S. Gardner 2371 (CMUB); • near Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, ♂ fl., 29 Sep 2013 (as G. mckeaniana), Tong Lau 1 (CMUB); Khun Chang Khian, Mueang District, ♂ fl., 29 Oct 1994 (as Garcinia sp.), BGO. Staff 2456 (QBG); • ibid., ♂ fl., 29 Oct 1994 (as Garcinia sp.), W. Nanakorn et al. 2479 (BGO. Staff 2479) (AAU, QBG); Doi Angka, Mae Ka Pak drainage, ♂ fl., 18 Nov 1930 (as G. mckeaniana), H. B. G. Garrett 607 (BKF, C, K, L [L 2416546]); • Doi Inthanon, fr., 21 Mar 1996 (as Garcinia sp.), BGO. Staff 6204 (QBG); • Huai Sai Lueang Waterfall, Doi Inthanon, fr., 22 Mar 2002 (as Garcinia sp.), T. Wongprasert et al. 023-37 (BKF); • Doi Inthanon, Mae Chaem Distritct, along stream, near Huai Sai Lueang Waterfall, at an elevation of 1,060 m a. m. s. l., fr., 24 May 2023, C. Ngernsaengsaruay & T. Kaewgrajang G 57-24022023 (BKF)]; • Nan [Hue Wao, fr., 10 March 1921 (as G. mckeaniana), A. F. G. Kerr 5065 (BKF, BM, K); • Doi Phu Kha National Park, ♂ fl., 13 Jan 2000, P. Srisanga 1275 [AAU & QBG (as Garcinia sp.), BKF & CMUB (as G. pedunculata)]; • ibid., fr., 27 May 2000 (as G. pedunculata), P. Srisanga 1481 (QBG); • Tham Sakoen National Park, Yot Subdistrict, Song Khwae District, fl., 16 Dec 2010 (as G. pedunculata), W. La-ongsri & N. Romkham 1282 (QBG)]; • Phrae [Mae Kray, ♂ fl., 10 Jan 1972 (as G. mckeaniana), C. F. van Beusekom et al. 4788 (BKF, C, K, P [P 05062052])]; • Uttaradit [Khao Phlueng, fl., 20 Dec 1943 (as G. mckeaniana), P. Kanchanapan 30 (BKF)]; • Tak [Ler Tor Royal Project Area, Mae Ramat District, at an elevation of 1,250 m a. m. s. l., ♂ fl., 14 Dec 2024, C. Ngernsaengsaruay et al. G 58-14122024 (BKF)]; • Kamphaeng Phet [Khlong Lan, Mae Wong National Park, ♂ fl., 10 Oct 1999 (as G. plena), M. van de Bult 380 (CMUB)]; North-eastern. • Loei [Lone Tae, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, fr., 17 May 1998 (as Garcinia sp.), T. Wongprasert s. n. (BKF 124471); • ibid., fr., Aug 1998 (as Garcinia sp.), T. Wongprasert s. n. (BKF 126762)].
India. • Cultivated in Calcutta Botanical Garden (H. B. C.), ♂ fl., 31 Dec 1814 (as G. paniculata), Wall. Cat. 4857 A (Buchanan-Hamilton’s Herbarium) (K-W [K 001104076]); • ibid., ♂ fl., s. d. (as G. bhumicowa), Wallich Cat. 4858 A (CAL [CAL 0000065164, CAL 0000065168], K-W [K 001104079]); • ibid., fl., s. d. (as G. bhumicowa), Unknown s. n. (E [E 00839542]); ibid., fl., Dec 1814 (as G. paniculata), F. Buchanan-Hamilton 1022 (E [E 00839543]); • ibid., ♂ fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), Unknown s. n. (K [K 000677603], L [L 2417597], P [P 04701882]); • Assam, ♂ fl., 1863 (as G. paniculata), C. Jenkins (Herb. L. Pierre 4578) (P [P 04701879, P 04701887]); • ibid., s. d. (as G. paniculata), C. Jenkins s. n. (P [P 04701884, P 04701885]); • ibid., ♂ fl., 1865 (as G. paniculata), C. Jenkins s. n. (G [G 00726260]); • Meghalaya, (East) Khasi Hills, Cherrapunjee, ♀ fl., 24 Jul 1952 (as G. paniculata), W. N. Koelz 30814 (L [L 2417594], MICH [1507203]); • Khasia, Regio trop., young fr., 4 Dec 1850 (as G. paniculata), J. D. Hooker & T. Thomson s. n. (K [K 003668822]); • ibid., young fr., s. d. (as G. paniculata), J. D. Hooker & T. Thomson s. n. (G [G 00726242], L [L 2417595, L 2417596], P [P 04701883]); • Khasia, Regio trop, Churra, young fr., 16 Jun 1850 (as G. paniculata), J. D. Hooker & T. Thomson 943 (K [K 003668814]); East India, ♂ fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), W. Roxburgh s. n. (BM [BM 000611602], K [K 000677602]); • Garo Hills, Tura Mountain, fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), N. E. Parry 881 (K [K 003668815]).
Nepal. • Locality unspecified, fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), N. Wallich s. n. (CAL [CAL 0000065163]).
Bhutan. • Sarbhang District, Burborte Khola near Phipsoo, young fr., 18 Mar 1982, A. J. C. Grierson & D. G. Long 3845 (E [E 00170196], K [K 001331949]); • Gaylegphug District, Lodrai Khola near Gaylegphug, 21 Mar 1982, A. J. C. Grierson & D. G. Long 3887 (E [E 00170197], K [K 003668996]).
Bangladesh. • Sylhet, ♂ fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), Wall. Cat. 4857 C (BR [BR 0000036486724], K-W [K 001104078]); Chittagong, fl., 1874 (as G. paniculata), W. Schleich s. n. (K [K 003668821]); • Chittagong Hill Tracts, fr., Mar 1880 (as G. paniculata), J. S. Gamble 7800 (K [K 003668823]); • Ponasari, Kelatuli, 2 Sep 1944 (as G. paniculata), J. Sinclair 3717 (E [E 00839545]); • Cultivated in East Bengal, fl., s. d. (as G. paniculata), Herbarium of the late East India Company 852 (K [K 003668818], P [P 04701881]).
Myanmar. • Mon State, Amherst [Kyaikkhami] District, Dawna Range, Ta-Ok Plateau, fr., 23 Mar 1909 (as G. cowa), J. H. Lace 4754 (E [E 00839544]); • Kachin State, Myitkyina District, Nammina to Namma, fr., 7 Mar 1910 (as G. paniculata), J. H. Lace 5172 (E [E 00839546]); • Sandoway District, Arakan Yoma, fl., 17 Jan 1931 (as G. cowa), Bals 11938 (K [K 003668816]); • Locality unspecified, Feb 1872 (as G. cowa), Presented by the Council of King’s College s. n. (K [K 003668817]).
Vietnam. • Tonkin, O. de Chapa, Quan Hóa District, Xinh mun, fl., 14 Aug 1926 (as G. mckeaniana), M. E. Poilane 12929 (K, P [P 05061533]).
Laos. • Xieng Khuang, fl., 18 Nov 1920 (as G. mckeaniana), M. Poilane 2330 (K, P [P 04899369]); • Khammouan, Nam Theun, Kaeng Luang, fl., 3 Nov 2005 (as Garcinia sp.), M. F. Newman et al. LAO 836 (BKF, L [L 2409472, L 2409473], P [P 04897552]); • Khammouan, fl., 4 Nov 2005 (as Garcinia sp.), M. F. Newman et al. LAO 855 (BKF 165806, BKF 165964, BKF 168376, L [L 2409466, P 04897550].
description: Published as part of Ngernsaengsaruay, Chatchai, Chanton, Pichet, Boonthasak, Weereesa, Mianmit, Nittaya & Kaewgrajang, Tharnrat, 2025, Taxonomic treatment on Garcinia sopsopia (Section Brindonia, Clusiaceae) in Thailand, with a new synonym and three lectotypifications of its synonyms, pp. 125-141 in PhytoKeys 254 on pages 125-141, DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.254.147960