Diospyros brasiliensis
Mart. ex Miq.
Bull's eye
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(c) Paul Norwood, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Norwood
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(c) troy_mcmullin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by troy_mcmullin
Description
A tree. It grows 6-10 m tall. The crown is dense. The trunk is upright and 25-45 cm across. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are 8-16 cm long and 5-9 cm wide. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are green. The fruit is a round berry. They are shiny when ripe. They are 5-7 cm across. The pulp is sweet and fleshy. There are 6-10 seeds.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. A thin, mucilaginous pulp with a slightly sweet flavour. The yellow-green, globose fruit is up to 8cm in diameter. There is only a little pulp in the fruit and it is quite difficult to extract. The seeds contain 6 - 10 seeds.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in the broadleaf, semi-deciduous forest in Brazil.
Where It Grows
Brazil*, South America,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and put into plastic bags until they soften and the seed can then be removed. The seeds are washed and planted fresh. Seeds germinate in 4-6 weeks. The seedlings can be transplanted into the field in 6-7 months.
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 to medium-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, soft and moderately durable. It is used for internal applications in general construction, cabinet making, tool handles etc. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.
Production
In Brazil it flowers August to October and fruit ripen about 2 months later.
Other Information
There is only a little pulp and it clings close to to seeds.
Also Known As
Caqui-do-mato, Fruta-de-boi, Jacuiba acu, Olho-de-boi
References (5)
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 202
- Lorenzi, H., 2002, Brazilian Trees. A Guide to the Identification and Cultivation of Brazilian Native Trees. Vol. 02 Nova Odessa, SP, Instituto Plantarum p 103
- Lorenzi, H., Bacher, L., Lacerda, M. & Sartori, S., 2006, Brazilian Fruits & Cultivated Exotics. Sao Paulo, Instituto Plantarum de Estuados da Flora Ltda. p 133
- www.colecionandofrutas.org
- www.tradewindsfruit.com
