Samoan ebony
Diospyros samoensis
Family: Ebenaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 15 m high. The stems can have soft hairs when young. The bark is dark and almost black. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are narrowly oval to sword shaped and 6-16 cm long. They are rounded or wedge shaped at the base and taper near the tip. The upper leaf surface is darker with a yellow midrib. Male and female flowers are separate on separate trees. There are 3-13 male flowers in a cluster. Female flowers occur singly. The fruit are yellow or red. They are 1.6-2.5 cm across. The calyx lobes remain on the fruit and curve back. There are 8-10 seeds and they are 1-1.5 cm long.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in coastal and mountain forest. It grows from sea level to 600 m altitude in Samoa. It is usually on limestone.
Countries/locations it is found in
Fiji, Niue, Pacific, Rotuma, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna
How it is used for food
The seeds are eaten.
It is probably only a famine food.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
Flowering and fruiting occur throughout the year.
Its other names
Local names
'au'auli, Salvoroanga