Diospyros mespiliformis (ebony diospiros)
Identity
- Preferred Scientific Name
- Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. DC.
- Preferred Common Name
- ebony diospiros
- Other Scientific Names
- Diospyros bicolor Klotzsch
- Diospyros holtzii Gurke
- Diospyros sabiensis Hiern
- Diospyros senegalensis Perr. ex A. DC.
- International Common Names
- EnglishAfrican ebonyjackal berryswamp ebonyWest African ebony
- Frenchebénier de Mozambique
- Arabicabu selebagughamjokhanjughan
- Local Common Names
- Botswanamokochong
- Gambianelberi
- GermanyEbenholzbaum, Westafrikanischer
- Mozambiquetoma
- Nigeriaigidudukanran
- South Africajakkalsbessiemierhon
- Southern Africamierhout
- Tanzaniachagmgiritimkokomsindemtiti
- Zimbabwem'chengmushenjemushumamusumaumdlawuzo
- EPPO code
- DOSMF (Diospyros mespiliformis)
Pictures
Mature tree
D. mespiliformis tree in a natural stand, about 11 m high, in Gokwe, Zimbabwe. They are usually left standing in cultivated lands for their fruit and shade.
Dzingai Rukuni
Fruits and leaves
Green, unripe fruits, twig and leaves of D. mespiliformis. The pencil gives an indication of the leaf size. Leaves are simple, alternate and leathery with smooth margins, a dull shine and have rounded to widely tapering tips. Leaf stalks are 5-10 mm long.
Dzingai Rukuni
Trunk and bark
Trunkof D. mespiliformis showing the grey-brown, rough and longitudinally-fissured bark of mature trees, which peels in thin sections. Bark on young twigs is green and hairy. The whitish patches on the bark are macro-fungi growing on the dead corky bark.
Dzingai Rukuni
Leaves and fruits
Fruits and leaves on a standing tree. The fruits are fleshy berries (20-25 mm long) with a presistent style and enlarged calyx. They turn golden-yellow when ripe and are very sweet, with a soft flesh.
Dzingai Rukuni
Distribution
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © CABI. CABI is a registered EU trademark. This article is published under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
History
Published online: 21 November 2019
Language
English
Authors
Metrics & Citations
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