mangosteen, the edible fruit of Garcinia mangostana, of the family Clusiaceae (Guttiferae), an evergreen tree native to SE Asia. The purple fruit is similar to an orange in size, thickness of the rind, and segmentation. A highly prized tropical fruit with a flavor similar to a grape-apple mixture, the mangosteen is cultivated in the West Indies. The rind is used in traditional SE Asian medicines. The mangosteen is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Theales, family Clusiaceae.