Diospyros tricolor
(Schum. et Thonn.) Hiern
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Description
A shrub. It grows about 2 m tall. The branches have a rusty coating. The leaves are narrowly oval and they can be rusty coloured underneath. The flowers are in small clusters. The fruit are yellow or orange.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten.
Medicinal Uses
The bark contains quinones used in medicine.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in coastal thickets.
Where It Grows
Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, West Africa,
Cultivation
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Propagation
Seed - in general the seed of Diospyros species 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. 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 cut to make chew-sticks which are used to maintain the health of teeth and gums. The wood is white and very hard, though seldom thicker than about 2cm. It has been made into useful walking sticks
Notes
There are about 485 species of Diospyros mostly in the tropics. The bark contains quinones used in medicine.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Ako
References (2)
- Burkill, H. M., 1994, The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. Volume 2. Kew.
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 133
