Persimmons are the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros. Diospyros is in the family Ebenaceae, and certain species of Diospyros are the sources of most kinds of ebony wood, and not all species bear edible fruit. In color the ripe fruit of the cultivated strains range from light yellow-orange to dark red-orange depending on the species and variety. They similarly vary in size from 1.5 to 9 cm (0.5 to 4 in) in diameter, and in shape the varieties may be spherical, acorn-, or pumpkin-shaped.^[1] The calyx generally remains attached to the fruit after harvesting, but becomes easy to remove once the fruit is ripe. The ripe fruit has a high glucose content. The protein content is low, but it has a balanced protein profile. Persimmon fruits have been put to various medicinal and chemical uses.

Like the tomato, persimmons are not popularly considered to be berries, but in terms of botanical morphology the fruit is in fact a berry.

Names and etymology [edit]

The word Diospyros comes from the ancient Greek words "Dios" (διός) and "pyros" (πυρος). In context this means more or less "divine fruit", though its literal meaning is more like "Wheat of Zeus".^[2][3] It is however sufficiently confusing to have given rise to some curious interpretations such as "God's pear" and "Jove's fire".

The word persimmon itself is derived from putchamin, pasiminan, or pessamin, from Powhatan, an Algonquian language of the eastern United States, meaning "a dry fruit".^[4]

Select species [edit]

Main article: Diospyros

While there are many species of Diospyros that bear fruit inedible to humans, the following are those that bear edible fruit:

Diospyros kaki [edit]

Diospyros kaki (柿)

The species (Diospyros kaki) is native to China. It is deciduous, with broad, stiff leaves and is known as the shizi (柿子 in Chinese), and also as the Japanese Persimmon or kaki (柿) in Japanese. It is the most widely cultivated species. Its fruits are sweet, and slightly tangy with a soft to occasionally fibrous texture. Cultivation of the fruit extended first to other parts of east Asia, and was later introduced to California and southern Europe in the 1800s, to Brazil in the 1890s,^[5] and numerous cultivars have been selected. It is edible in its crisp firm state, but has its best flavor when allowed to rest and soften slightly after harvest. The Japanese cultivar 'Hachiya' is widely grown. The fruit has a high tannin content which makes the immature fruit astringent and bitter. The tannin levels are reduced as the fruit matures. Persimmons like 'Hachiya' must be completely ripened before consumption. When ripe, this fruit comprises thick pulpy jelly encased in a waxy thin skinned shell.

"Sharon Fruit" (named originally after Sharon plain in Israel) is an Israeli-bred cultivar of the D. kaki fruit. The cultivar is called 'Triumph'.^[6] As with all pollination-variant-astringent persimmons, the fruit are ripened off the tree by exposing them to carbon dioxide. The sharon fruit has no core, is seedless, particularly sweet, and can be eaten whole.^[7] Eating the sharon fruit regularly is believed to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis heart attacks.^[8]

Nanyo City, Yamagata, Japan. October 2005.

Diospyros lotus (The Date-plum tree) [edit]

The Date-plum (Diospyros lotus) is native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe. It was known to the ancient Greeks as "the fruit of the gods", or often referred to as "nature's candy" i.e. Dios pyros (lit. "the wheat of Zeus"), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its English name probably derives from Persian Khormaloo خرمالو literally "Date-Plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both plums and dates. This species is one candidate for the lotus mentioned in the Odyssey: it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.^[9]

Diospyros virginiana (The American Persimmon) [edit]

The American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is native to the eastern United States and is higher in nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, iron and potassium than the Japanese Persimmon. Its fruit is traditionally eaten in a special steamed pudding in the Midwest and sometimes its timber is used as a substitute for ebony (e.g. in instruments).

Diospyros digyna (The Black Persimmon) [edit]

The Black Persimmon or Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna) is native to Mexico. Its fruit has green skin and white flesh, which turns black when ripe.

Diospyros discolor [edit]

The Mabolo or Velvet-apple (Diospyros discolor) is native to the Philippines. It is bright red when ripe. It is also native to China, where it is known as shizi. It is also known as Korean Mango.

Diospyros peregrina (The Indian Persimmon) [edit]

The Indian Persimmon (Diospyros peregrina) is a slow growing tree, native to coastal West Bengal. It is green and turns yellow when ripe. It has an unremarkable flavor and is more known for its medicinal than its culinary uses.

Fruit [edit]

A ripe hachiya persimmon fruit

Commercially, there are in general two types of persimmon fruit: astringent and non-astringent.

The heart-shaped Hachiya is the most common variety of astringent persimmon. Astringent persimmons contain very high levels of soluble tannins and are unpalatably astringent (or "furry" tasting) if eaten before completely softened. However, the sweet, delicate flavor of fully ripened persimmons of varieties that are astringent when unripe, is particularly relished. The astringency of tannins is removed in various ways. Examples include ripening by exposure to light for several days, and wrapping the fruit in paper (probably because this increases the ethylene concentration of the surrounding air). Ethylene ripening can be increased in reliability and evenness, and the process can be greatly accelerated, by adding ethylene gas to the atmosphere in which the fruit are stored. For domestic purposes the most convenient and effective process is to store the ripening persimmons in a clean, dry container together with other varieties of fruit that give off particularly large quantities of ethylene while they are ripening; apples and related fruits such as pears are effective, and so are bananas and several others. Other chemicals are used commercially in artificially ripening persimmons or delaying their ripening. Examples include alcohol and carbon dioxide which change tannin into the insoluble form. Such bletting processes sometimes are jumpstarted by exposing the fruit to cold or frost. The resultant cell damage stimulates the release of ethylene, which promotes cellular wall breakdown.

This is a sound, ripe kaki, soft enough for one to lift the calyx out cleanly and split the fruit for eating

A whole Jiro persimmon fruit and a cross-section of one.

One traditional misconception is that persimmons are to be ripened till rotten. This is a confusion of the processes of controlled ripening with the processes of decay, possibly arising from problems of translation from Asiatic languages onto English. Rotting is the action of microorganisms such as fungi, and rotting persimmons are no better than any other rotting fruit. Sound persimmons should be ripened till they are fully soft, except that the carpels still might be softly chewy. At that stage the skin might be splitting and the calyx can easily be plucked out of the fruit before serving, which often is a good sign that the soft fruit is ready to eat.

Astringent varieties of persimmons also can be prepared for commercial purposes by drying. Tanenashi fruit will occasionally contain a seed or two, which can be planted and will yield a larger more vertical tree than when merely grafted onto the D. virginiana rootstock most commonly used in the U.S. Such seedling trees may produce fruit that bears more seeds, usually 6 to 8 per fruit, and the fruit itself may vary slightly from the parent tree. Seedlings are said to be more susceptible to root nematodes.

The non-astringent persimmon is squat like a tomato and is most commonly sold as fuyu. Non-astringent persimmons are not actually free of tannins as the term suggests, but rather are far less astringent before ripening, and lose more of their tannic quality sooner. Non-astringent persimmons may be consumed when still very firm, and remain edible when very soft.

There is a third type, less commonly available, the pollination-variant non-astringent persimmons. When fully pollinated, the flesh of these fruit is brown inside – known as goma in Japan – and the fruit can be eaten firm. These varieties are highly sought after and can be found at specialty markets or farmers markets only.^{[citation needed]} Tsurunoko, sold as "Chocolate persimmon" for its dark brown flesh, Maru, sold as "Cinnamon persimmon" for its spicy flavor, and Hyakume, sold as "Brown sugar" are the three best known.

Before ripening, persimmons usually have a "chalky" taste or bitter taste.

Fruit production [edit]

The table below shows figures of persimmons for the world's top ten persimmon producing countries according to FAO statistics.

Persimmon output in 2006

Culinary uses [edit]

Peeled, flattened, and dried persimmons (shìbǐng, 柿餅) in a Xi'an market

Persimmons are eaten fresh, dried, raw, or cooked. When eaten fresh they are usually eaten whole like an apple or cut into quarters, though with some varieties it is best to peel the skin first. One way to consume very ripe persimmons, which can have the texture of pudding, is to remove the top leaf with a paring knife and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Riper persimmons can also be eaten by removing the top leaf, breaking the fruit in half and eating from the inside out. The flesh ranges from firm to mushy, and the texture is unique. The flesh is very sweet and when firm due to being unripe, possesses an apple-like crunch.^{[citation needed]} American persimmons and diospyros digyna are completely inedible until they are fully ripe.

In China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam after harvesting, 'Hachiya' persimmons are prepared using traditional hand-drying techniques, outdoors for two to three weeks. The fruit is then further dried by exposure to heat over several days before being shipped to market. In Japan the dried fruit is called hoshigaki (干し柿), in China it is known as "shìbǐng" (柿饼), in Korea it is known as gotgam (hangul: 곶감), and in Vietnam it is called hồng khô. It is eaten as a snack or dessert and used for other culinary purposes.

Kaki preserved in limewater

干し柿 Hoshigaki, Japanese dried persimmon

In Korea, dried persimmon fruits are used to make the traditional Korean spicy punch, sujeonggwa, while the matured, fermented fruit is used to make a persimmon vinegar called gamsikcho (감식초), which is alleged to have a variety of health benefits. The hoshigaki tradition traveled to California with Japanese American immigrants.

In Taiwan, fruits of astringent varieties are sealed in jars filled with limewater to get rid of bitterness. Slightly hardened in the process, they are sold under the name "crisp persimmon" (cuishi 脆柿) or "water persimmon" (shuishizi 水柿子). Preparation time is dependent upon temperature (5 to 7 days at 25–28 °C). In some areas of Manchuria and Korea, the dried leaves of the fruit are used for making tea. The Korean name for this tea is ghamnip cha (감잎차).

In the state of Indiana (US), persimmons are harvested and used in a variety of dessert dishes most notably pies. It can be used in cookies, cakes, puddings, salads, curries[1] and as a topping for breakfast cereal. Persimmon pudding is a dessert using fresh persimmons. An annual persimmon festival, featuring a persimmon pudding contest, is held every September in Mitchell, Indiana. Persimmon pudding is a baked pudding that has the consistency of pumpkin pie but resembles a brownie and is almost always topped with whipped cream. Persimmons may be stored at room temperature (20 °C) where they will continue to ripen. In northern China, unripe persimmons are frozen outside during winter to speed up the ripening process.

Medical effects [edit]

The Sharon fruit was found to contain high levels of dietary fiber, phenolic compounds, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese. They are also rich in vitamin C and beta carotene. Regular consumption of the fruit is believed to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis heart attacks.^{[citation needed]} A separate research project showed that a diet rich in Sharon fruit persimmons improved lipid metabolism – the way the body copes with fat – in laboratory rats.^[8]

The fruits of some persimmon varieties contain the tannins catechin and gallocatechin,^[11] as well as the candidate anti-tumor compounds betulinic acid and shibuol.^[12]

Unripened persimmons [edit]

Unripened persimmons contain the soluble tannin shibuol, which, upon contact with a weak acid, polymerizes in the stomach and forms a gluey coagulum, a "foodball" or phytobezoar, that can affix with other stomach matter.^[13] These phytobezoars are often very hard and almost woody in consistency. More than 85% of phytobezoars are caused by ingestion of unripened persimmons.^[14] Persimmon bezoars (diospyrobezoars) often occur in epidemics in regions where the fruit is grown.^[15][16][17] Diospyrobezoars should not be of concern when consuming moderate quantities of persimmons. One case in medical literature from 2004 revealed a 51-year old patient who had eaten a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of unpeeled persimmons each day for 40 years.^[18][19] Surgery is sometimes employed, but Coca-Cola has also been successfully used to chemically shrink or eliminate persimmon-related bezoars.^[20]

Horses may develop a taste for the fruit growing on a tree in their pasture and overindulge also, making them quite ill.^[21] It is often advised that persimmons should not be eaten on an empty stomach.^[22]

Wood [edit]

An example of persimmon wood furniture

Though persimmon trees belong to the same genus as ebony trees, persimmon tree wood has a limited use in the manufacture of objects requiring hard wood. It is hard, but cracks easily and is somewhat difficult to process. Persimmon wood is used for paneling in traditional Korean and Japanese furniture.

In North America, the lightly colored, fine-grained wood of D. virginiana is used to manufacture billiard cues and textile shuttles. It is also used in the percussion field as the shaft of the Tim Genis Signature Timpani Mallet Collection, as well as several Vic Firth and Cooperman drumsticks. Persimmon wood was also heavily used in making the highest-quality heads of the golf clubs known as "woods" until the golf industry moved primarily to metal woods in the last years of the 20th century. In fact, the first metal woods made by TaylorMade, an early pioneer of that club type, were branded as "Pittsburgh Persimmons". Persimmon woods are still made, but in far lower numbers than in past decades. Over the last few decades persimmon wood has become popular among bow craftsmen, especially in the making of traditional longbows. Persimmon wood is used in making a small number of wooden flutes and eating utensils such as wooden spoons and cornbread knives (wooden knives that may cut through the bread without scarring the dish).

Like some other plants of the genus Diospyros, older persimmon heartwood is black or dark brown in color, in stark contrast to the sapwood and younger heartwood, which is pale in color.

Trees [edit]

Persimmon Tree

The trees of all species have stiff, tumescent leaves, but the female of the D. virginiana can look less turgid than the male because the leaves droop when fruiting, perhaps because of the heavier nutrient requirements. They grow swiftly, and are resilient to the stresses of unpredictable climates. Persimmons can tolerate and adapt to a wide range of climates. Persimmons are also known for their resistance to diseases and pests. They are one of the last trees to leaf out in the spring, and do not flower until well after the leaves have formed, bypassing the threat of blossom loss to frosts. The fruit hangs on the branches long into the winter. Because they grow swiftly and colonize off their root systems, they are ideal for helping recover habitat. A persimmon tree will be mature enough to bear fruit within 7–8 years. They hold their own against flooding riverbanks quite well and are listed in Stormwater Journal's list of water-holding trees.^[23]

Apocryphal and traditional significance [edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2010)

• In Ozark folklore, the severity of the upcoming winter is said to be predictable by slicing a persimmon and observing the cutlery-shaped formation within it.^[24] (This is "a myth with no bearing on weather forecasting").^[24]
  • The folklore about the seed says that a spoon means snow while a fork is a milder winter and a knife is a cold biting winter.^[25]
• In Vietnam, the fruit is a part of Mid-Autumn Festival offering.
• In traditional Chinese medicine the fruit is thought to regulate ch'i.
• The raw fruit is used to treat constipation and hemorrhoids, and to stop bleeding. Over-consumption can induce diarrhea, but the cooked fruit is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery; the opposing effects of the raw and cooked fruit are due to its osmotic effect in the raw fruit sugar (causing diarrhea), and the high tannin content of the cooked fruit helping with diarrhea.^{[citation needed]}
• In philosophy, the painting of persimmons by Mu Qi (13th Century) exemplifies the progression from youth to age as a symbol of the progression from bitterness to sweetness. The persimmon when young is bitter and inedible, but as it ages it becomes sweet and beneficial to humankind. Thus, as we age, we overcome rigidity and prejudice and attain compassion and sweetness. Mu Qi's painting of Six Persimmons is considered a masterpiece.
• In Korean folklore the dried persimmon (gotgam, Korean: 곶감) has a reputation of scaring away tigers.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery [edit]

See also [edit]

• Mabolo, or Velvet Apple
• Mango
• Persimmon regiment

References [edit]

Diospyros is a genus of about 450–500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and small bushes. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. Depending on their nature, individual species commonly are known as ebony or persimmon trees. Some are valued for their hard, heavy, dark timber, and some for their fruit. Some are useful as ornamentals and many are of local ecological importance.

Taxonomy and etymology

The generic name Diospyros comes from the ancient Greek words "Dios" (διός) and "pyros" (πυρος). In context this means more or less "divine fruit" or "divine food", though its literal meaning is more like "Wheat of Zeus".^[2][3] The interpretation of Diospyros is however sufficiently confusing to have given rise to some curious and inappropriate interpretations such as "God's pear" and Jove's fire". The name Diospyros was originally applied to the Caucasian Persimmon (D. lotus).

The genus is a large one and the number of species has been estimated variously, depending on the date of the source. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew list has over 1000 entries, including synonyms and items of low confidence. Over 700 species are marked as being assigned with high confidence.^[4]

Ecology

Diospyros species are important and conspicuous trees in many of their native ecosystems, such as lowland dry forests of the former Maui Nui in Hawaii,^[5] Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests, Kathiarbar-Gir dry deciduous forests, Louisiade Archipelago rain forests, Madagascar lowland forests, Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests, New Guinea mangroves or South Western Ghats montane rain forests. The green fruits are rich in tannins and thus avoided by most herbivores; when ripe they are eagerly eaten by many animals however, such as the rare Aders' Duiker (Cephalophus adersi).

The foliage is used as food by the larvae of numerous Lepidoptera species:

Arctiidae:

• Eupseudosoma aberrans
• Eupseudosoma involutum (Snowy Eupseudosoma)
• Hypercompe indecisa

Geometridae:

• Gymnoscelis rufifasciata (Double-striped Pug) – recorded on persimmons

Limacodidae:

• Monema flavescens

Lycaenidae:

• Neopithecops zalmora (Quaker)

Nymphalidae:

• Charaxes khasianus (Kihansi Charaxes) – recorded on D. natalensis
• Dophla evelina (Redspot Duke) – recorded on D. candolleana

Saturniidae:

• Actias luna (Luna Moth) – recorded on persimmons
• Callosamia promethea (Promethea Silkmoth) – recorded on persimmons
• Citheronia regalis (Regal Moth) – recorded on American Persimmon (D. virginiana)

Tortricidae:

• "Cnephasia" jactatana (Black-lyre Leafroller Moth)

An economically significant plant pathogen infecting many Diospyros species – D. hispida, Kaki Persimmon (D. kaki), Date-plum (D. lotus), Texas Persimmon (D. texana), Coromandel Ebony (D. melanoxylon) and probably others – is the sac fungus Pseudocercospora kaki, which causes a leaf spot disease.

Ebony jivari of a sitar

Use by humans

Betulinic acid can be isolated from Diospyros leucomelas

The genus includes several plants of commercial importance, either for their edible fruit (persimmons) or for their timber (ebony). The latter are divided into two groups in trade: the pure black ebony (notably from D. ebenum, but also several other species), and the striped ebony or Calamander wood (from D. celebica, D. mun and others). Most species in the genus produce little to none of this black ebony-type wood; their hard timber (e.g. of American Persimmon, D. virginiana) may still be used on a more limited basis.

Leaves of the Coromandel Ebony (D. melanoxylon) are used to roll South Asian beedi cigarettes. Several species are used in herbalism, and D. leucomelas yields the versatile medical compound betulinic acid. Though bees do not play a key role as pollinators, in plantations Diospyros may be of some use as honey plant. D. mollis, locally known as mặc nưa, is used in Vietnam to dye the famous black lãnh Mỹ A silk of Tân Châu district.

These trees are well-known in their native range, and consequently much used as floral emblems. In Indonesia, D. celebica (Makassar Ebony, known locally as eboni) is the provincial tree of Central Sulawesi, while ajan kelicung (D. macrophylla) is that of West Nusa Tenggara. The emblem of the Japanese island of Ishigaki is the Yaeyama kokutan (D. ferrea). In Thailand, the Gold Apple (D. decandra) is the provincial tree of Chanthaburi and Nakhon Pathom Provinces, while Black-and-white Ebony (D. malabarica) is that of Ang Thong Province. The name of the Thai district Amphoe Tha Tako literally means "District of the Diospyros pier" after a famous local gathering spot.

Species

Diospyros chloroxylon flowers

Gold Apple (D. decandra) fruit

Diospyros dichrophylla

D. ferrea, known as Yaeyama kokutan in Japan

D. geminata foliage and young fruit

D. rhombifolia is a deciduous species

D. whyteana twig with young fruit

Diospyros buxifolia leaves

• Diospyros acocksii (De Winter) De Winter
• Diospyros acris
• Diospyros affinis Thwaites
• Diospyros apeibacarpos Raddi
• Diospyros armata
• Diospyros attenuata Thwaites
• Diospyros australis – Yellow Persimmon, Black Plum, "grey plum"
• Diospyros austroafricana De Winter
• Diospyros barberi
• Diospyros batocana Hiern
• Diospyros blancoi – Mabolo, Velvet-apple
• Diospyros brandisiana Kz.
• Diospyros canaliculata (= D. cauliflora, D. xanthochlamys)
• Diospyros candolleana
• Diospyros caribaea (A.DC.) Standl.
• Diospyros castanea (Craib) Fletcher
• Diospyros cathayensis Steward (= D. sinensis)
• Diospyros cauliflora Blume
• Diospyros celebica – Makassar Ebony
• Diospyros chamaethamnus – Sand Apple
• Diospyros chloroxylon
• Diospyros clavigera C.B.Clarke
• Diospyros confertifolia
• Diospyros compacta (R.Br.) Kosterm.
• Diospyros consolataei
• Diospyros conzattii Standl.
• Diospyros crumenata Thwaites
• Diospyros crassiflora Nesbitt – Gaboon Ebony
• Diospyros crassinervis (Krug & Urb.) Standl.
• Diospyros decandra Lour. – Gold Apple

• Diospyros dichrophylla (Gand.) De Winter
• Diospyros digyna – Black Sapote, Chocolate Pudding Fruit, "black persimmon"
• Diospyros diversifolia
• Diospyros ebenum – Ceylon Ebony, India Ebony, "ebony"
• Diospyros elliptica (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) P.S.Green
• Diospyros eriantha Champ. ex Benth.
• Diospyros fasciculosa
• Diospyros ferrea (Willd. ) Bakh.f.
• Diospyros fischeri
• Diospyros geminata
• Diospyros glabra (L.) De Winter
• Diospyros glandulosa Lace
• Diospyros glaucifolia F.P.Metcalf
• Diospyros gracilipes (Madagaskar)
• Diospyros grisebachii (Hiern) Standl.
• Diospyros guianensis (Aubl.) Gürke
• Diospyros halesioides Griseb.
• Diospyros hillebrandii
• Diospyros hispida DC.
• Diospyros humilis – Queensland Ebony
• Diospyros ierensis Britton
• Diospyros inconstans Jacq. (= D. psidioides)
• Diospyros inhacaensis F.White
• Diospyros insignis Thwaites
• Diospyros insularis Bakh.f – Papua Ebony
• Diospyros japonica Siebold & Zucc.
• Diospyros juruensis A.C.Sm.
• Diospyros kaki – Japanese Persimmon, Kaki Persimmon, Asian Persimmon
• Diospyros kirkii Hiern
• Diospyros kurzii – Andaman Marblewood
• Diospyros lanceifolia
• Diospyros leucomelas
• Diospyros littorea (R.Br.) Kosterm.
• Diospyros lokohensis
• Diospyros longibracteata Lecomte
• Diospyros lotus – Date-plum, Caucasian Persimmon
• Diospyros lycioides Desf. – Bushveld Bluebush
  • Diospyros lycioides ssp. guerkei (Kuntze) De Winter
  • Diospyros lycioides ssp. lycioides
  • Diospyros lycioides ssp. nitens (Harv. ex Hiern) De Winter
  • Diospyros lycioides ssp. sericea (Bernh.) De Winter
• Diospyros mabacea – Red-fruited Ebony
• Diospyros macrocalyx (= D. loureiroana)
• Diospyros macrophylla Blume
• Diospyros major (G.Forst.) Bakh.f.
  • Diospyros major var. ebenus f. australiensis
• Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel. – Black-and-white Ebony, Pale Moon Ebony, Gaub Tree (= D. embryopteris, D. peregrina^{[verification needed]})
• Diospyros maritima Blume
• Diospyros marmorata R.N.Park. – Marblewood Ebony, "marblewood"
• Diospyros melanida
• Diospyros melanoxylon – Coromandel Ebony, East Indian Ebony
• Diospyros mespiliformis – Jackalberry, "African Ebony"
• Diospyros mindanaensis Merr. (= D. rosenbluthii)
• Diospyros mollis Griff.
• Diospyros montana Roxb. (= D. cordifolia, D. montana var. cordifolia)
• Diospyros moonii Thwaites
• Diospyros morrisiana Hance
• Diospyros multiflora
• Diospyros mun – Mun Ebony
• Diospyros natalensis (Harv.) Brenan
  • Diospyros natalensis ssp. natalensis
  • Diospyros natalensis ssp. nummularia (Brenan) F.White
• Diospyros nitida Merr.
• Diospyros oblongifolia (Thwaites) Kosterm.
• Diospyros oldhamii Maxim. (= D. taitoensis)
• Diospyros oleifera Cheng
• Diospyros pallens (Thunb.) F.White
• Diospyros papuana Valeton ex Bakh.f.
• Diospyros pavonii
• Diospyros pentamera – Myrtle Ebony, Grey Persimmon, Black Myrtle, Grey Plum
• Diospyros philippinensis A.DC.
• Diospyros phlebodes (A.C.Sm.) A.C.Sm.
• Diospyros pilosanthera Blanco
• Diospyros piscatoria Gürke
• Diospyros poeppigiana
• Diospyros pyrrhocarpa Miq.
• Diospyros quaesita Thwaites
• Diospyros rhombifolia
• Diospyros ridleyi Bakh.f. (= D. crumenata auct. non Thwaites, D. pyrrhocarpa auct. non Miq., D. pyrrhocarpa var. andamanica, D. pyrrhocarpoides)
• Diospyros rosei Standl.
• Diospyros rotundifolia Hiern
• Diospyros rubra Lecomte
• Diospyros rumphii Bakh.f. (= D. macassar, D. utilis Koord & Val. (non Hemsl.))
• Diospyros samoensis A.Gray
• Diospyros sandwicensis
• Diospyros sapota Roxb.
• Diospyros sericea DC.
• Diospyros seychellarum Seychelles
• Diospyros siamang (= D. elliptifolia)
• Diospyros simii (Kuntze) De Winter
• Diospyros sintenisii (Krug & Urb.) Standl.
• Diospyros sonorae Standl.
• Diospyros subrotata
• Diospyros subtruncata Hochr.
• Diospyros sundaica Bakh.f. (= D. pseudoebenum)
• Diospyros sylvatica Roxb.
• Diospyros tessellaria Poir. – Mauritius Ebony
• Diospyros texana – Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, "black persimmon"
• Diospyros trichophylla (= D. pruriens)
• Diospyros tutcheri Dunn
• Diospyros venosa Wall. ex DC. (= D. hermaphroditica)
• Diospyros villosa (L.) De Winter

D. virginiana in Tampa, Florida

• Diospyros virginiana – American Persimmon, Eastern Persimmon, Common Persimmon, Possumwood
• Diospyros vitiensis
  • Diospyros vitiensis var. longisepala (Gillespie) A.C.Sm. (= D. globosa)
• Diospyros whyteana (Hiern) F.White
• Diospyros tomentosa
• Diospyros sp. 'Bamaga'
• Diospyros sp. 'Mt Lewis'
• Diospyros sp. 'Mt Spurgeon'

See also

• Adriaan van Royen
• Ebonol
• Tonewood

Footnotes

References

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