494 DIOSPYROS 



above, more or less downy beneath. Fruit 3 ins. wide, yellow, and of the 

 shape of an average tomato, supported by the persistent calyx, 2 ins. across. 



Native of China ; long cultivated in Japan, where several scores of varieties 

 have been raised, remarkably diverse in size of fruit. Kakees are now being 

 extensively cultivated in the south of Europe, and the fruits sent from there 

 are becoming well-known in London shops as " persimmons." As regards the 

 British Isles, it, or some of its forms, for it is difficult now to distinguish the 

 type, ought to be hardy in the mildest parts. Canon Ellacombe has obtained 

 fine crops in his garden at Bitton, from trees trained against a wall. At 

 Kew, splendid crops are obtained in a cool greenhouse, and a tree has 

 lived in the open for five or six years. Its real hardiness must as yet, how- 

 ever, be regarded as very doubtful. This species is well distinguished from the 

 others by its large leaves and fruit. 



D. LOTUS, Linnceus. DATE PLUM. 



A deciduous tree, usually under 30 ft. high in this country, but probably 

 twice as high in warmer climates ; young shoots more or less downy, often 

 becoming quite smooth. Leaves oval, 2 to 5 ins. long, i to 2 ins. wide ; 

 tapered at both ends, entire, dark polished green above, and smooth except 

 on the midrib ; pale, somewhat glaucous, and with small scattered hairs 

 beneath ; stalk j to \ in. long, downy. Trees unisexual ; male flowers 

 produced on very short, downy stalks one to three together, in the leaf-axils 

 of the shoots of the year in July ; female flowers solitary. Calyx large in 

 both sexes, remaining attached to the base of the fruit, and growing larger 

 with it ; corolla pitcher-shaped, green suffused with red, in. long. Fruit 

 orange-shaped, ultimately \ to f in. across, purplish or yellowish. 



Native of China, whence it has several times been introduced ; of the 

 Himalaya, possibly also of Asia Minor. It was cultivated early in the 

 seventeenth century in England, but has never become very common in 

 gardens, although perfectly . hardy. Fruits develop freely, but remain very 

 astringent, and unfit for food. The trees emit a curious heavy odour, especially 

 on damp days in autumn. It is due apparently to some exhalation from the 

 leaves. 



D. VIRGINIANA, Linnceus. PERSIMMON. 



A deciduous tree, 40 to 65 ft. high in this country ; but occasionally over 

 100 ft. high in a wild state, with a trunk 2 ft. in diameter ; young shoots more 

 or less downy. Leaves oval to ovate, tapering or more or less heart-shaped 

 at the base, pointed at the apex ; i-J- to 5 ins. long, f to 2 ins. wide ; glossy 

 green above, pale beneath ; smooth except for a little down on both sides of 

 the midrib ; stalk downy, \ to I in. long. Male flowers produced one to 

 three together in the leaf-axils, on very short downy stalks. Corolla pitcher- 

 shaped, \ in. long, with four short recurved lobes. Female flowers solitary, 

 larger, yellowish white. The fruit I have not seen in this country, but it is 

 described as more or less orange-shaped, i to i^ ins. across; pale yellow with 

 a red cheek. 



Native of the eastern United States as far north as Connecticut, but most 

 abundant in the Southern and Central States, where the fruit is eaten in 

 large quantities. The tree is somewhat tender when very young, but perfectly 

 hardy after a few years. The finest tree in the British Isles is growing near 

 the Sun Temple at Kew. It is a male tree now 65 ft. high, with a trunk 5 ft. 

 6 , ins. in girth. The trunk is singularly picturesque because of the rugged 

 bark, which is deeply cut into square or rectangular blocks. This tree was 

 planted where it now stands in 1762, being one of a large collection trans- 

 ferred from the Duke of Argyll's garden at Whitton to the then newly formed 



