Diospyros humilis

(R. Br.) F. Muell.

Black ebony, Australian ebony, Queensland ebony

Ebenaceae Edible: Fruit 142 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Diospyros humilis, commonly named Queensland ebony, is a small eastern Australian tree found throughout Queensland and extending into Northern New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The plant is most commonly found in coastal and semi-arid zones in vine scrubs, brigalow woodlands and other locales with infrequent fire. The plant grows as a small tree or shrub, with stiff, glossy, discolorous leaves. Foliage is held in distinctive trusses and shrubs developing tree form, can be distinctly pyramidal in profile. Fruit are oval and bright yellow and orange-red when ripe with a single seed. The timber is prized for woodturning and fine cabinet work.

Description

A small tree. It has a spreading crown forming a shady tree. It grows 8 m high. The bark is rough and dark. The leaves are alternate and shiny green above and duller underneath. They are 1-3 cm long by 0.5-2.5 cm wide. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Male flowers are in clusters of 3-5. Female flowers usually occur singly. The petals are silky, hairy and 5 mm long. The fruit are berries 11 mm long by 9 mm wide. The fruit is oval and yellow to orange. There is a calyx cup at the base.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in monsoon vine forests. It grows in wetter areas of sandy forests. In tropical Queensland it grows between sea level and 900 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Papua New Guinea, PNG,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed.

Notes

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

Synonyms

Diospyros ferrea var. humilis (R. Br.) Bakh.Ebenus humilis (R. Br.) KuntzeEbenus obovata (R. Br.) KuntzeMaba humilis R. Br.Maba obovata R. Br.Maba ovata F. Muell.

Also Known As

Birimbiri, Brembre, Small-leafed ebony, Yilikerra

References (12)

Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch) p 46
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 155
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 82
Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. p 93
Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 105

Show all 12 references

Milson. J., 2000, Trees and Shrubs of north-west Queensland. DPI p 62
Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 231
Pearson, S. & A., 1992, Rainforest Plants of Eastern Australia. Kangaroo Press p 89
Smith, M & Kalotas, A. C., 1985, Bardi Plants: An Annotated List of Plants and Their Use by the Bardi Aborigines of Dampierland, in North-western Australia. Rec. West Aust. Mus. 1985, 12(3): 317-359 (As Diospyros ferrea var. humilis)
Wightman, Glenn et al. 1991.Alawa Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from Minyerri, Northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 11. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 11
Wightman, Glenn et al. 1992, Mangarrayi Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from the Elsey Area Northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 15. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 18
Yunupinu Banjgul, Laklak Yunupinu-Marika, et al. 1995, Rirratjinu Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 21. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 35