Indian persimmon, Siamese persimmon
Diospyros malabarica

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows 10-12 m tall. The trunk is 20-30 cm across. The trunk is straight. The trunk is short and the crown is spreading. The crown is dark green with horizontal spreading branches. The bark is very dark and becomes rough and cracked with age. The leaves are dark and shiny and 20 cm long. Young leaves are red but turn green. The flowers have 4 parts. They are white or green. They are fragrant. Male and female flowers occur in separate trees. The male flowers occur in clusters of 3-6 while the female flowers are larger and either single or in pairs. The fruit is round or oval and 5 cm across. The fruit are rusty yellow when ripe. They are very sticky. The flesh is yellow and soft. There are 6-7 shiny black seeds.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dense mixed forest. It grows in the Eastern States in India. It suits moist areas near streams in dry zones. It needs plenty of water. It grows between 300-650 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Central America, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is eaten raw. It is sour until fully ripe.

The fruit are an important famine food. The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seed are put in nurseries. The seedlings are transplanted a year later during the rainy season.

Plants grow slowly. In Northeastern India fruit are available June to September.

Its other names

Local names

Adavi sapota, Ambre, Bam, Benson, Bok-pyin, Bon gab, Cuom-thi, Dangkao, Deshi gaab, Deshi gab, Dhusarokendi, Dimi, Gab, Gaub persimmon, Gaub, Gaubgota, Gav, Gubgota, Gusvakendhu, Holetupare, Kala tendu, Kalatendu, Kalluk, Kandu, Kattatti, Kavikattai, Kend, Kendu, Krishnasara, Kumbh, Kusharta, Kusi, Makar kanda, Makarkend, Makarkendi, Ma khuea theun, Makur, Panachi, Panichchai, Plab, Pohon eben kledung, Pohon eben malabar, Tako suan, Tambilik-kay, Temburni, Tendak, Tendu, Thei-kum, Thi dau heo, Thimbiri, Timbiri, Timburi, Tindkui, Tinduka, Tukiki, Tirka, Vam, Vananji, Virupaka, Yangan-bok

Synonyms

Diospyros biflora Blanco; Diospyros citrifolia Wall. ex DC.; Diospyros embryopteris Pers. [Illegitimate]; Diospyros glutinifera (Roxb.) Wall.; Diospyros glutinosa J. Koenig ex Roxb.; Diospyros malabarica var. siamensis (Hochr.) Phengklai; Diospyros peregrina (Gaertn.) Gurke; Diospyros peregrina f. javanica Kosterm.; Diospyros siamensis Hochr.; Embryopteris gelatinifera G. Don; Embryopteris glutinifera Roxb.; Enbryopteris glutinifolia Link.; Embryopteris peregrina Gaertn.;