Diospyros lanceifolia

Diospyros lanceifolia is a tree in the family Ebenaceae. The specific epithet lanceifolia means 'lance-shaped leaves'.

Description

An evergreen tree. The young shoots are softly hairy. The bark has a smell. The bark is dark or blank and has fine cracks along it. The leaves are in two rows. They are narrowly sword shaped and taper to the tip. The male flowers are in clusters and without stalks. The female flowers occur singly. The fruit are flattened round or oval. They are 2.5 cm across. They are softly hairy.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The globose fruit is 10 - 25mm in diameter. In general, fruits in this genus are rich in tannins and very astringent unless fully ripe, when many of them become sweet, some even delicious.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are sour or salty.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The seeds are used as a fish poison. The principles involved here might be their content of naphthoquinone derivatives such as biplumbagin and chitranone, which are known to be ichthyotoxic.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in East India.

Where It Grows

Asia, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Vietnam,

Cultivation

We have seen no individual confirmation for this species, but in general Diospyros species are dioecious and require both male and female forms to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so should be sown as soon as possible. The flesh should be removed since this contains germination inhibitors. Sow the seed in a shady position in a nursery seedbed. The sowing media for ebony uses soil and fine sand at the ratio 3:1. The seed is planted horizontally or vertically with the radicle end down, with a sowing depth of 1 - 1½ times the thickness of seed. Distance between the seeds is 3 - 5cm. Seeds are very sensitive to desiccation during germination and early growth, so must be regularly watered at this time. Normally the seed will germinate after one week. In one trial, fresh seed, sown one day after collection, showed 85% germination rate within 17 - 65 days. As a rule fresh seeds have a high percentage of fertility. The seedlings develop long taproots at an early stage, often before any appreciable elongation of the shoot takes place. The growth of the seedling is decidedly slow .

Other Uses

The wood is grey, clouded with irregular dark patches. It is hard and durable. It is used in house building.

Production

In NE India plants flowers and fruit April to February.

Notes

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

Synonyms

Also Known As

Chauchi, Dieng-thang, Phaktel, Rujaa, Shiteishi, Siiteishi

References (13)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 177
• Gouldstone, S., 1983, Growing your own Food-bearing Plants in Australia. Macmillan p 122
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 277
• Jayaraman, U., & Singh, V., 1987, A Census of Edible Species of Diospyros L. in India. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 10 No. 2 pp 416-419
• Jeeva, S., 2009, Horticultural potential of wild edible fruits used by the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya. Journal or Horticulture and Forestry Vol. 1(9) pp. 182-192

More from Ebenaceae

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Cauliflorous ebony tree

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Cayenne persimmon

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Diospyros chloroxylon

Green ebony persimmon