Coromandel Ebony persimmon
Diospyros melanoxylon

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows to 15 m high. The bark is dark brown. It peels in large irregular pieces. There are many branches forming a dense crown. The leaves vary. They are 10-30 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. They are leathery. The base tapers to a wrinkled stalk. The flowers are greenish. The male flowers are in drooping clusters of 2-7 flowers. The female flowers occur singly and are 2-3 cm across. The fruit is yellow to brown. It is covered with rusty hairs. The fruit are round and 4-6 cm across. The fruit pulp is sweet and edible.

There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout the plains in India in deciduous forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Nepal (country/location of origin), Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. Unripe fruit are buried in sand until they ripen. The seeds are powdered and eaten.

The fruit are sold in markets. They are popular and nutritious.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In India fruit are available June to August. In southern India, February to April.

Its other names

Local names

Abanasi, Bale, Beedi-leaf tree, Bidipata, Dirghapataka, Dirghapatraka, Govindo, Karai, Kari, Karundumbi, Kendu, Kumki, Mancigata, Nallatumki, Taidu, Taidua, Tamrug, Tembhrun, Tembhurani, Tembhurni, Tembhru, Temburni, Temru, Tendu, Tendupata, Thumbimaram, Thummika pandlu, Timburni, Timru, Tiril, Tumari, Tumbi, Tumida, Tumki, Tumri, Tuniki

Synonyms

Diospyros dubia Wall. ex A. DC.; Diospyros exsculpta Bedd.; Diospyros melanoxylon var. melanoxylon; Diospyros roylei Wall. ex A. DC.; Diospyros wightiana Wall. [Invalid]; Diospyros tupru Buch.-Ham.;