Mangosteen, << MANG guh steen, >> is a tropical fruit tree that grows in Southeast Asia. It is about 30 feet (9 meters) tall. The large, shiny green leaves are thick and leathery. The white to pinkish flowers measure almost 2 inches (5 centimeters) across. The edible fruit is shaped like a tangerine. A hard yellowish to reddish-purple rind surrounds juicy, white flesh that separates into several sections. The fruits are about 21/2 inches (6 centimeters) across. Cold weather kills the plant. A few mangosteens grow in gardens in the southernmost United States.
