Diospyros inconstans

Diospyros inconstans is a species of tree in the family Ebenaceae. It is native to Panama and South America.

Description

A tree. It grows 6-9 m high. The trunk is bent and 20-40 cm across. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are of one sex and in the axils of leaves. They are in groups of 2-3. The fruit is about 2-3 cm across. It is yellow but turns red. It has 3-6 seeds.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A thin, mucilaginous pulp with a sweet, pleasant flavour. The fruits contain only a small amount of edible pulp.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in high latitude forest in Brazil. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Antilles, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil*, Central America, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The seed are collected from ripe fruit by crushing the fruit in running water. Seeds are only viable for 30 days. Seeds germinate in 80-100 days.

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 fine-textured, straight-grained, heavy, with good mechanical properties and resistant to rot. It is used locally for making tool handles and small objects. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Production

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Other Information

It is not very popular.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Caquizinho-do-mato, Cinzeiro, Fruta-de-jacu-do-mato, Fruta-de-jacu-macho, Granadilo, Limoncillo, Limpia diente, Maria-preta, Marmelinho-do-mato, Marmelo, Negro lora

References (11)

• Brack, P., et al, 2020, Frutas nativas do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: riqueza e potencial alimentício. Native fruits of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: richness and potential as food. Rodriguésia 71: e03102018.
• Enum. syst. pl. 34. 1760 (Select. stirp. amer. hist. 276, t. 174, fig. 67. 1763)
• Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 203
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 396
• Kinupp, V. F., 2007, Plantas alimenticias nao-convencionais da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil p 77

More from Ebenaceae

Diospyros apeibocarpos

Apeiba

Diospyros artanthifolia

Pepperleaf persimmon

Diospyros australis

Black plum, Grey plum, Yellow persimmon

Diospyros bangoiensis

Thi ba ngoi

Diospyros barteri

Diospyros batocana

Sand jackal tree, Sand jackal-berry