EBENACE^E EBONY FAMILY 



PERSIMMON 



Diospyros virginihna. 



Diospyros, of Greek derivation, means the fruit of Jove. Persimmon 

 is the Indian name. 



Small tree varying from thirty to fifty feet in height, short slender 

 trunk, spreading, often pendulous branches, which form sometimes a 

 broad and sometimes a narrow round-topped head. Prefers a light, 

 sandy, well-drained soil, but will grow in rich, southern, bottom lands. 

 Roots thick, fleshy and stoloniferous. Given to shrubby growth. 



Bark. Dark brown or dark gray, deeply divided into plates 

 whose surface is scaly. Branchlets slender, zigzag, with thick pith 

 or large pith cavity ; at first light reddish brown and pubescent. 

 They vary in color from light brown to ashy gray and finally become 

 reddish brown, the bark somewhat broken by longitudinal fissures. 

 Astringent and bitter. 



Wood. Very dark ; sapwood yellowish white ; heavy, hard, strong 

 and very close grained. Sp. gr., 0.7908 ; weight of cu. ft. ,49.28 Ibs. 



Winter Buds. Ovate, acute, one-eighth of an inch long, covered 

 with thick reddish or purple scales. These scales are sometimes 

 persistent at the base of the branchlets. 



Leaves. Alternate, simple, four to six inches long, oval, narrowed 

 or rounded or cordate at base, entire, acute or acuminate. They 

 come out of the bud revolute, thin, pale, reddish green, downy with 

 ciliate margins, when full grown are thick, dark green, shining above, 

 pale and often pubescent beneath. In autumn they sometimes turn 

 orange or scarlet, sometimes fall without change of color. Midrib 

 broad and flat, primary veins opposite and conspicuous. Petioles 

 stout, pubescent, one-half to an inch in length. 



Flowers. May, June, when leaves are half-grown ; dioecious or 

 rarely polygamous. Staminate flowers borne in two to three-flowered 



'95 



