Description: One of the Pohnpeian names (Koahnpwil) associated with Garcinia ponapensis, a Pohnpeian native, prop-rooted woody species, refers to the abundant latex the tree produces (koahn means tree, pwil means latex or sap in Pohnpeian).

Distribution: Garcinia ponapensisis is an endemic tree species (or variety, i.e., G. ponapensis var. ponapensis) only found on Pohnpei, along with a variation of this species (G. ponapensis var. trukensis (Kaneh.) Fosberg), which may be better classified as a unique species(?), found only in Chuuk(i.e., Garcinia trukensis Kaneh.). In any case, unique trees in the genus Garcinia are found in the mixed broadleaf forests of a number of the high islands in Micronesia. More research is needed to sort out the taxonomy of these endemic Micronesian Garcinia trees.

Uses by Island or Island Group:

Uses in Chuuk: Native Garcinia trees (G. ponapensis var. trukensis or G. trukensis?) are reportedly found among the woody species in the upland forests of Moen, Dublon, Fefan and possibly Tol, high volcanic islands located within Chuuk lagoon (e.g., see Falaruw et al. 1987:4). However, use of these native Garcinia trees in Chuuk is presently unclear.

Uses in Pohnpei: Native Garcinia ponapensis (or G. ponapensis var. ponapensis) has been important traditionally in Pohnpeian myth and medicine; e.g., it is said to be used to stop menstrual bleeding, and an infusion of inner bark is used as a beverage for treatment of dysentery. Furthermore, the sap this Garcinia species (known as Koahnpwil in Pohnpei) makes it a good source of kindling wood to start fires in forest. Therefore, people often camp near these trees when staying in the nanwelwild forest lands or lands outside of human authority). The trunk of Koahnpwil is also sometimes carved into house timber on Pohnpei:

“The wood is used for fire kindling and is even good if the plant is still alive or if it is raining, as it is rich in flammable resin [the latex sap is also] used as glue for diving goggles, to seal cracks in wood and canoes, the bark is cut in many places and allowed to bleed for four or five hours; then the gum is collected and used directly as glue [and the resin is used medicinally to] treat menorrhagia…” (Balick et al. 2009:352).

Note: Garcinia mangostana L., the common Mangosteen fruit tree native to southeast Asia, was introduced to Pohnpei from the Celebes (Sulawesi) and Singapore during the time of German and then Japanese administrative control; it is now cultivated in some areas of Pohnpei (e.g., see Ragone et al. (2001); also see http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/ethnobotany/text/ethnobotany.html).