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Diospyros
(Ebony, Persimmon, Star-apple, Jackal-berry genus)
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Order: Ericales > Family: Ebenaceae
About 475 species worldwide (cosmopolitan), of which 22
are native to southern Africa and a further five species are cultivated in the
region. A number of species produce edible fruit or
timber of commercial importance (e.g. ebony from India and Sri Lanka).
Species native in southern Africa
List from Jordaan (2003).
Diospyros acocksii
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Diospyros
austro-africana |
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Diospyros batocana
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Diospyros chamaethamnus
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Diospyros dichrophylla (Common
star-apple)
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Diospyros galpinii
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Diospyros glabra
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Diospyros glandulifera
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Diospyros inhacaensis
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Diospyros loureiriana
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Diospyros lycioides (Blue-bush)
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Diospyros mespiliformis
(Jackal-berry)
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Diospyros natalensis
(Small-leaved jackal-berry)
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Diospyros nummularia
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Diospyros pallens
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Diospyros ramulosa
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Diospyros rotundifolia
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Diospyros scabrida
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Diospyros simii (Climbing
star-apple)
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Diospyros villosa |
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Diospyros virgata
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Diospyros whyteana
(Bladdernut) |
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Other species, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002).
Diospyros discolor
(Butter-fruit, Mabola) Native to the
Philippines.
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Diospyros ebenaster Native to Central America.
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Diospyros kaki (Chinese
persimmon, Japanese persimmon) Native to China and Japan. Cultivated for its fruit,
which are eaten fresh or dried. Fruit are also used as a sugar source in its
native distribution.
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Diospyros lotus (Date plum)
Native distribution extends from the Caucasus through
to India. The fruit is eaten fresh or dried.
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Diospyros virginiana
(Persimmon) Native to E USA. Fruit is eaten
and the wood is also useful.
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Other species of importance
Diospyros ebenum (Ebony) Native to India and Sri Lanka. This is the main
species producing the black-coloured timber referred to as ebony. Other
species, such as Diospyros montana (Bombay ebony;
native from India through to SE Asia) and Diospyros haplostylis from Madagascar, also
yield timber referred to as ebony. Ebony is used in the manufacture of
furniture and fine ornaments.
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Publications
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Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated plants of
southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
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Jordaan, M. 2003. Ebenaceae. In
Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds), Plants of southern Africa: an
annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14: 421-423. National Botanical
Institute, Pretoria.
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Mabberley, D.J. 1987.The Plant-book.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
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