Mountain persimmon
Diospyros montana

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 8-15 m tall. Sometimes it has thorns. The bark is black and peels off in irregular flakes. Young branches are hairy. Flowers are in the axils of leaves. Male flowers are in groups and female flowers occur singly. The berries are yellow. They are 2 cm across. There are usually 4-8 seeds. They are dark brown.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits a somewhat dry climate. It grows in evergreen forests up to 800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The pounded bark and fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Balagunike, Bangab, Bankini, Bhodrika, Bistendu, Bombay ebony, Eddayagata, Gatugata, Goindu, Gyok, Hirek, Jagalaganti, Jagalkanti, Kadal, Kanchau, Karunthuvalisu, Kendu, Makar tendu, Manjakara, Mottled ebony, Nanchimaram, Nhon, Tan dam, Tan fai pi, Tawbut, Teeju, Tendu, Thi nui, Timbarao, Timru, Tumala, Vakanai, Vakkanai, Vakkanatan, Vakkanatthi

Synonyms

Diospyros auriculata Wight ex Hiern; Diospyros bracteata Roxb.; Diospyros calcarea Fletcher; Diospyros calycina Bedd.; Diospyros cordifolia Roxb.; Diospyros dioica Span.; Diospyros glauca Rottler; Diospyros goindu Dalzell; Diospyros heterophylla Wall. ex G. Don; Diospyros humilis Bourd.; Diospyros kanjilalii Duthie; Diospyros microcarpa Span.; Diospyros montana var. cordifolia (Roxb.) Hiern; Diospyros orixensis Klein ex Willd.; Diospyros pubicalyx Bakh.; Diospyros punctata Decne; Diospyros rugosula R. Br.; Diospyros waldemarii Klotzsch; (See Diospyros bundeyana Kosterm.;)