Diospyros EBENACEAE Diospyros 



estipulate usually coriaceous lvs.: fls. regular, axillary, 3-7-merous, on jointed 2- 

 bracteate pedicels; calyx persistent, often enlarged in fr.; corolla gamopetalous, 

 deciduous, usually pubescent on the outside; stamens free 2-3 x the corolla lobes and 

 inserted on the cotolla tube; ovary superior, 2-16-celled; styles 2-8: fr. a several- 

 seeded berry. 5 genera with 325 species, chiefly tropical; one genus and 30 species 

 in China. 



1. Diospyros Linn. Persimmon frflM (Shih Shu) 

 Fls. mostly 3-merous: ovary 4-5- (or 8-10) celled; cells 1- (or 2-) ovuled; styles 

 1-4: fr. globose, ellipsoid or oblong-conic, often with an enlarged calyx. 150 species, 

 tropical regions, 13 in China. (Greek: Dios, of Jove, and pyros, grain; in allusion to 

 the edible fruit.) 



Key to the Species 



a. Frtg. calyx with a flat or saucer-shaped portion at base: lobes usually 

 rounded or obtuse, 

 b. Frtg. calyx with shallow tiiangular lobes. 



Petioles 15-25 mm. long; If. blades ovate, 7-15 cm. long, 



glaucescent and finely reticulate beneath 1 . D. glaucifolia 



Petioles 5-10 mm. long; If. blades oblong or ovate, 5-10 cm. 



long, drying biownish and not reticulate 2. D. morrisiana 



bb. Frtg. calyx with rather deep broad lobes. 



Young brts. brownish pubescent: fr. 4-8 cm. across: fls. 15- 



18 mm. long 3. D. kaki 



Young brts. glabrous: fr. about 1.5 cm. across: fls. about 5 



mm. long 4. D. lotus 



aa. Frtg. calyx cleft to the base; segments ovate, oblong or lanceolate, 

 12-20 mm. long: If. blades 4-8 cm. long. 

 Lf. blades rhombic-ovate: frtg. pedicels 15-20 mm. long; segments 



of frtg. calyx lanceolate 5. D. rhombifolia 



Lf. blades oblong-lanceolate: frtg. pedicels about 30 mm. long; 



segments of the frtg. calyx ovate 6. D. cathayensis 



1. Diospyros glaucifolia Metcalf (L.S.J. 14:669). Tree, to 15m.; fls. VI-VII; fr. 

 IX-X. East-central China; locally in An., Che., Ki. Woodland. 



2. Diospyros morrisiana Hance (L.S.J. 14:670). Tree, to 10m.; fr. yellow, IX. 

 South China; locally in Che., Ki. Woodland. 



3. Diospyros kaki Linn. f. Kaki Persimmon ffi (Shih) (R.M. 759). Tree, to 15 m.; 

 fls. yellowish white, V-VI; fr. orange to yellow, VIII-XI. China, Japan; locally 

 in An., Ku. Cultivated, fruit. 



4. Diospyros lotus Linn. Date Plum HjfT- (Chun Ch'ien Tzu) (R.M. 759). Tree, 

 to 12 m.; fls. reddish or greenish, VI; fr. yellow, sometimes becoming blue-black, 

 X-XI. China and Japan to western Asia; locally in An., Ki., Ku. Cultivated, 

 grafting stock. Fig. 290. 



5. Diospyros rhombifolia Hemsl. [l[ffi (Shan Shih; Mountain Persimmon) (F.H.E. 

 2:70). Tree, to 7 m.; fls. greenish, V; fr. orange red, X. Eastern China; locally 

 in An., Che., Ki., Ku. Woodland. 



6. Diospyros cathayensis Steward (D. sinensis Hemsl. non Blume ex Naudin.) (R.M. 

 759, AA.J. 35:86). Shrub or tree, to 8m.; fls. V; fr. yellow, IX. Central, wes- 

 tern and southern China; locally in Che., Hup., Ki. Woodland. 



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