Diospyros oleifera

W.C. Cheng

You shi

Ebenaceae Edible: Fruit 38 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Diospyros oleifera is a species of flowering plant in the persimmon family Ebenaceae, native to southeastern China. A tree reaching 14 m (46 ft), its genome has been sequenced.

Description

A deciduous tree. It grows to 14 m tall. Many plant parts are grey or yellow and slightly hairy. The bark peels in dark thin flakes. The leaves are oval to sword shaped and 7-17 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. They are papery and the base is rounded and slightly oblique. Male flowers are in groups of 3-5 and the female flowers occur singly. The fruit is a dark yellow berry. It is flattened and 4-7 cm by 5-8 cm. It is divided into 8-10 locules.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, China*,

Production

In southern China it flowers from April to May and fruits from August to October.

Other Information

It is a cultivated fruit tree in China.

Notes

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

References (5)

Contr. Biol. Lab. Chin. Assoc. Advancem. Sci., Sect. Bot. 10:80. 1935
Shu-kang, L., Gilbert, M.G., & White, F., Ebenaceae. Flora of China.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 250
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew