Tulican, Scrub Ebony
Diospyros hebecarpa

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 7-10 m high and spreads 3-6 m wide. The wood is soft and yellow. The tree has a dark compact crown. The branches are slender and greyish-green. The young shoots have short hairs. The leaves hang in a lax fashion on the tree. The leaves are simple, entire and alternate. They are oval and the tip comes to a point while the base is tapered. The leaves are dark green and dull above but lighter and more shiny underneath. The leaves are 5-9 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are 1.5-2.5 cm across and round. They are covered with short hairs. The seeds are flattened and there are about 8 seeds in a fruit.

The fruit have been used to stun fish. There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in mixed secondary forest. It grows up to 1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Malesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed which must be sown fresh.

It is slow growing especially when young. It needs well drained acid soil. It probably does best with light shade. In Australia flowering is in October.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Diospyros alvarezii Merr.; Diospyros pellucida Hiern;