CHAP. LXXIV. | EBENA‘CEE. DIOSPY*ROS. 1195 
the woods of Hyrcania, and the whole coast of the Caspian Sea, and Mauri- 
tania; where it grows to the height of from 20ft. to 30ft., and sometimes much 
higher. It flowers in July, and ripens its fruit in October. The leaves are 
of a beautiful dark glossy green above, and, when mature, and exposed to 
the air, assume a purplish hue beneath: they do not change colour in 
autumn, but drop off simultaneously with the first attack of sharp frost. 
It was cultivated by Gerard, who says that it grows beautifully near 
Lyons, in France; and that he planted “in the garden of Barne Elms, neere 
London, two trees; besides there groweth another in the garden of Mr. 
Gray, an apothecary of London, and in my garden likewise.” Gerard adds 
that this plant “ has been reputed for the lotus of Theopbrastus:” but 
Dr. Walsh (see Gard. Mag., vol. i. p. 294.) says that the Diospyros Lotus 
is not described by the ancients ; and Dr. Sibthorp and others, particularly 
Mr. Hogg (Journ. of Bot., vol.i. p. 203. ; and Gard, Mag., vol. x. p. 391.), 
consider the Céltis australis, or nettle tree, as the true Lotos of the Lo- 
tophagi. The Diospyros Lotos ripening its fruit freely in the south of 
France and Italy, seeds have been readily procured; and the plant has 
never been rare in British collections; but, as it is somewhat tender, there 
are few large specimens of it. It grows at the rate of 1 ft. or 18 in. a year, 
for the first ten years, especially if the soil in which it is planted is free and 
loamy, and rich rather than poor. According to Dr. Walsh, the Dios- 
pyros Lotus was originally brought to Constantinople from the country be- 
yond the Caspian Sea; whence its name of the date of Trebisonde. The 
fruit is sometimes brought to the market at Constantinople, under the name 
of Tarabresan Curmasi; and in that part of Europe it appears to grow 
much larger than either in Britain or in Italy, being nearly the size of a 
walnut ; it is however austere, and unfit for the table, unless as a conserve. 
In the neighbourhood of London, it bears fruit in abundance; but these are 
extremely austere, andseldom larger than asmall cherry. Were it considered 
desirable to cultivate the diospyros for its fruit, superior varieties might be 
easily procured from the East, or by selection from seedlings, and conti- 
nued by grafting. The wood of this species is white, light, and of very 
little use. 
Statistics. In the environs of London, the oldest trees are at Syon, where there is a curious spe- 
cimen (a portrait of which is given in our last Volume), only 15 ft. high, but with a head 39 ft. in 
diameter. In our garden at Bayswater, there is a tree which, in 1835, was 10 years planted, and 16 ft. 
high. In 1834, this tree ripened fruit for the first time; and on this day, July 12.1856, it is covered 
with thousands of blossoms. In Messrs. Loddiges’s arboretum, and in the garden of the Horticultural 
Society, are several trees which have grown at nearly the same rate. In Cheshire, at Eaton Hall, 
a tree, 14 years planted, is 13 ft. high. In Ireland, at Louth, a tree, 6 years planted, is 10 ft. high. 
In France, in the neighbourhood of Paris, the tree attains the height of from 20 ft. to 30 ft., and 
ripens fruit; but there is a specimen in the Jardin des Plantes which has attained the height of 45 ft. 
In the Botanic Garden at Toulon, there is one which, in 48 years, has attained the height of 
30 ft. In Germany, at Vienna, at Laxenbourg, in 12 years it has attained the height of 10 ft. In 
Italy, at Monza, in 24 years it has attained the height of 35ft. In Russia, in the Crimea, it has 
attained the height of between 30 ft. and 40 ft.; the tree being frequent in that country. 
Commercial Statistics. The price of plants, inthe London nurseries, is 2s. 
each, and seeds 2s. a packet; at Bollwyller, 1 franc; and at New York, 1 
dollar. 
¥ 2. D. vireinta‘na L. The Virginian Date Plum, or Persimon. 
Ss > 
Identification. Lin. Sp., 1510.; Don’s Mill., 4. p. 39. : 
Synonyme. Guatacina Catesb. Car., 2. t. 76., Pluk. Alm., 244, f. 5. 
Engravings. Mill. Icon., 126.; Wats. Dendr. Brit., t. 146. ; Park. Par., 570. t. 569. f. 6. ; and the plates 
in our last Volume. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves ovate-oblong, acuminated, glabrous, shining above, 
and paler beneath, reticulately veined. Petioles short and curved, and, as 
_ well as the branchlets, downy. Leaf buds glabrous. Flowers quadrifid, 
rarely quinquefid. Flowers pale yellow (Don’s Mill., iv. p. 39.) A tree, 
growing to the height of 20 ft. or 30 ft. in the neighbourhood of London, 
but much higher in the United States, whence it was introduced in 1629. 
It flowers in July, and its fruit is ripe about the time the tree drops its 
leaves in November. 
