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Flowers and developing mangosteens

The female flower bud and the open flower.

The very earliest signs of the developing fruit.

The fruit is clearly visible now, with the distinctive raised area on the bottom of the fruit, corresponding to the number of segments inside the fruit. It then requires over one hundred days to reach full ripeness. At that time, the fruit stays on the tree until it has turned more purple and brown patches may appear as well. There are some minor insect pests such as thrips which may scrape the surface of the mangosteen fruit, damaging the pigment cells. The fruit ends up completely brown at full ripeness. The quality of the fruit inside is unaffected by this but is not as attractive to look at.