Garcinia sessilis
Garcinia sessilis, commonly known as heilala in Tongan, is an evergreen tree native to the Pacific regions of Tonga. The heilala flower is the national flower of Tonga. Description Garcinia sessilis, which can also be known as heilala in Tonga or seilala in Samoa, can grow anywhere from 4 to 20 meters tall and can have a bole up to 30 cm in diameter. The Garcinia sessilis comes from the genus of Garcinia, which are native to regions of Asia, America, Australia, Africa, and Polynesia. With this, Garcinia sessilis is a fruiting plant native to various islands in the Pacific: Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. The tree produces flowers that range in color from pale yellow or pink tinged, to a coral red or carmine, and the fruits range from a yellowish white to red at maturity. Garcinia sessilis can have many uses, ranging from medicine and food, to creating material objects from various parts of the tree. In the country of Tonga, the Garcinia sessilis is an ornamental plant, having been seen as both sacred and representing royalty. Taxonomy The Garcinia Sessilis is from the genus of Garcinia, a genus of flowering plants that are native to various