Mun Ebony, Vietnamese Ebony
Diospyros mun

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

Found in Southeast Asia, Diospyros mun is a small, slow-growing tree of up to 18 m in height and has a dense crown and cylindrical trunk of up to 40 cm in diameter that branches quite low down. It produces glossy black timber that is highly valued and overexploited. The seed, fruits, and leaves yield black dye which can be used for dyeing silk, cloth, and other materials. The bark is used for preserving alcoholic beverages.

Diospyros mun is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Limestone mountains, at elevations below 800 metres.

Southeast Asia - Vietnam, Laos.

Conservation Status: Status: Critically Endangered A1cd

Countries/locations it is found in

Lao People's Democratic Republic; Viet Nam

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: A black dye is obtained from the fresh seeds. It is used for dyeing silk, cloth, and other materials. A black dye is obtained from the oily fruits and leaves. The bark is used for preserving alcoholic beverages. The heartwood is black, becoming glossy black when dry. The wood is hard and heavy. A very precious timber, it is used for flower pots, statues, and especially for making chopsticks.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Preservative: For food, or for treating wood, ropes etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

How it is grown

Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in poor soils. Established plants are drought tolerant. A slow growing tree. The tree can regenerate by suckers produced near the stump. We have seen no individual confirmation for this species, but in general Diospyros species are dioecious and require both male and female forms to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - in general the seed of Diospyros species has a very short viability and so should be sown as soon as possible. The flesh should be removed since this contains germination inhibitors. Sow the seed in a shady position in a nursery seedbed. The sowing media for ebony uses soil and fine sand at the ratio 3:1. The seed is planted horizontally or vertically with the radicle end down, with a sowing depth of 1 - 1.5x the thickness of seed. Distance between the seeds is 3 - 5cm. Seeds are very sensitive to desiccation during germination and early growth, so must be regularly watered at this time. Normally the seed will germinate after one week. As a rule fresh seeds have a high percentage of fertility. The seedlings develop long taproots at an early stage, often before any appreciable elongation of the shoot takes place. The growth of the seedling is decidedly slow .

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

fing bu

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.