Gorumi: A Rare Tropical Fruit Wonder of Borneo

Appearance of Gorumi fruit: resembles grapes, but larger. Photo credit: author.

There, you’ll find an abundance of tropical fruits. However, not all of these fruits are fit for human consumption during the season. Many become a feast for animals, birds, and various wildlife in the jungle. Sometimes, fruits even fall from the trees and go to waste.

Borneo is known as a land rich in natural resources. Take tropical fruits, for instance—there's an abundance of them, including some that you won’t find anywhere else. 

Gorumi, in the Dayak Bidayuh language, is a prime example of a unique fruit from the Borneo rainforest.

Gorumi: Unique tropical fruit with delightful sweetness

Gorumi is a rare gem among tropical fruits. At first glance, its shape might resemble that of a grape, but don’t be deceived! This fruit comes from a tree with thin, yellow flesh when ripe, delivering a delightful sweetness that tantalizes the taste buds.

Morphology of Gorumi: its leaves, branches, and tree. Photo credit: author..

Scientifically, Gorumi is known as Lepisanthes alata. While this species tends to be uniform, some specimens from Kalimantan exhibit intriguing differences, such as larger sizes and wider leaflets with more spaced-out veins.

The Gorumi tree can grow up to 15 meters tall and has a trunk diameter of up to 30 cm, but it can also take the form of a shrub. Its leaves are pinnate, consisting of 3 to 5 pairs of leaflets, measuring between 20 and 45 cm in length. The drooping flowers of the Gorumi often display shades of purple, red, or deep violet.

When it bears fruit, Gorumi produces obovoid, three-sided fruits that measure 2.5 to 4 cm. When ripe, the color transitions to a reddish-purple or almost black, with somewhat thick, white flesh. The seeds are ellipsoid and can reach lengths of up to 2.5 cm.

Borneo's unique, thriving tropical treasure

Gorumi thrives in forests, along riverbanks, and in clay-rich soils, typically at elevations up to 500 meters above sea level.

In Indonesia, this fruit goes by various local names such as "cereme landa," "ki angir" (in Sundanese), and "blimbing cina" (in Javanese), while in Malaysia, it is known as "perupok." In regions like Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan, Gorumi is often cultivated as a fruit tree.

With all its uniqueness and beauty, Gorumi stands as one of Borneo's natural wonders, embodying the extraordinary richness of tropical flora. 

-- Herys Maliki