Mabolo, Velvet apple
Diospyros discolor
Family: Ebenaceae
What it is like
A large tree. It can grow to 20 m or more high. Often it is only a small tree. It is a spreading tree with drooping branches. The leaves are smooth but covered with fine soft hairs. They are 7.5-22.5 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. The leaves are dark green on the top surface and copper coloured underneath. Flowers are in small clusters of 2-3 together in the axils of leaves. Both male and female flowers occur. These are on separate trees. The flowers are cream and have a slight scent. The fruit are round and 5-8 cm across. The fruit colour is pink to brown. It can be dark red or purple. The fruit have short silky hairs and have the sepals still attached. The flesh is white and sweet but has a cheesy unpleasant smell. The fruit are like a flat persimmon but have a velvety appearance. Often fruit contain many large seeds. Seedless fruit also occur.
There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands. Mature trees can withstand light frost for short times. Young trees do not tolerate low temperatures. It is better to have trees in sheltered places protected from cold winds. Slightly acid, moist and free draining soils are best. It can grow in sun or light shade. It cannot tolerate salt. Plants grow naturally in the Philippines. It is common and widely distributed in the forests of the Philippines. It has become established wild in the bush in the Gazelle Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. It grows from sea level to 200m altitude in Taiwan. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Guiana, Guyana, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, St Lucia, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies
How it is used for food
The fruit is eaten fresh or made into jellies or juice. The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw when ripe. The hairs and skin are removed.
The fruit are popular and widely used and sold. It is a cultivated food plant. At present only of minor importance in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. It is better suited to Papua New Guinea than the Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki ).
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
They are cultivated for the fruit popularly known as mabalo. Trees are mostly grown from seed. Plants are normally grown from seed. A spacing of 5 m is needed. Trees should be left unattended prior to flowering. It is possible to do grafting and air-layering.
A slow growing tree. It may take three years for seedling trees to be large enough to transplant. Fruiting is not normally seasonal. Fruit ripening takes 2-4 months from flowering.
Its other names
Local names
Bilayati gab, Bisbul, Buah choklat, Buah lemak, Buah mantega, Buah mentaga, Buah sakhlat, Butterfruit, Camagong, Chalta, Hong nhung, Kadiba, Kadiba-thi, Kamagong, Marit, Persimo, Persimonio, Pohon bisbul, Tabang, Talang, Tayok-te, Yi se shi
Synonyms
Cavanillea mabolo Poir; Cavanillea philippensis Desr.; Diospyros blancoi A. DC.; Diospyros durionoides Bakh.; Diospyros mabolo (Poir.) Roxb. ex Lindl. [Illegitimate]; Diospyros mabola Roxb. ex J. V. Thomps. [Illegitimate]; Diospyros malacapai A. DC.; Diospyros merrillii Elmer; Diospyros philippensis (Desr.) Guerke [Illegitimate]; Diospyros utilis Hemsl.; Embryopteris discolor G. Don; Mabola edulis Raf.;