488 DIOSMA 



ers in the same manner and for the same purpose as 

 Stevia is used, to give that necessary grace and artistic 

 effect to the whole. Thisspecies.likemost of the genus, 

 has an agreeable aromatic fragrance in the foliage. It 

 is a strong grower, loose and heath-like in habit and 



DIOSPYROS 



and even in a different subclass of the Dicotyledons. It 

 is a heath-like shrub 2-3 ft. high, with erect branches, 

 and somewhat whorled, mostly clustered branches: Ivs. 

 spirally arranged, stalkless, overlapping, linear,3-angled, 

 roughish, with 2 grooves beneath; fis. crimson (accord- 

 ing to Flora Capensis ), crowded into oblong, spike-like, 

 terminal heads. Generic characters are calyx adhering 

 to the ovary, 5-cleft, segments large, overlapping: petals 

 with a long, 2-keeled claw, and 

 spreading, roundish limb ; 



Jded: 

 lled,cells2-. 



vary half 



Kled. 



Pith 



included; 



allyth. 

 large. Ah' 



■e Persimmon— 

 Diospyros VirEinian 



foliage, as the specific name indicates ; flowers white and 

 small, one or more on the points of tiny branchlets. While 

 Diosmas undoubtedly do best in soifsuitable for heaths, 

 that is, soil composed largely of fibrous peat, they are not 

 nearly so exacting in their requirements in this respect, 

 and can be grown in good fibrous loam and leaf-mold in 

 equal parts, with considerable clean, sharp sand added 

 thereto. 



The plants should be cut back rather severely after 

 flowering to keep them low and bushy; this refers more 

 particularly to the above species, other members of the 

 genus being of more compact growth and needing 

 very little corrective cutting to keep them in shape. 

 Viosma eapilafa (now Ardoiiinia cnpitata) is a fine ex- 

 ample of the latter class, and is a much better one than 

 jD. cci'coirffs for exhibition and show purposes; flowers 

 pinkish lilac, in corymbs of many flowers. The propa- 

 gation of Diosmas by cuttings is similar to that of 

 heaths, but much easier with the same amount of care. 

 The best material for cuttings is young wood, when not 

 too soft or too hard. Kisx! rii I'im ^^-..^• 



The Biosmn capitata referred i" :i ■ , , - i il.ed 



by Linnaeus, but is now referred t.. I infn, 



Brongn., which belongs in adiffei-t-m ..:.!ri- /:,„ „.,)rf(e) 



papilla-like stigmas. This plant 

 is not advertised for sale in America. 



ericoldes, Linn. Much-branched ; branches 

 and twigs quite glabrous : Ivs. alternate, 

 crowded, recurved-spreading, oblong, obtuse, 

 keeled, pointless, glabrous : fls. terminal, 

 2-3 together, with very short pedicels; calyx 

 lobes ovate, obtuse; petals elliptic-oblong, ob- 

 B.M. 2:iH2 under this name is in realty J), vut- 



D. frdgrans, Sims. = Adenandra fragrans.— D. vulgaris, 



.Sehleeht., has narrower Ivs. than D. erieoides, and they are 



branchlets minutely pubescent: Ivs. scattered, rarely 



opposite, linear, convex-carinate, subulate-acuminate. There 



W. M. 



DIOSP'?EOS {Dius. .Jove's, jnjros, grain; alluding to 

 I edible fruit). Kbiiulreer. Persimmon. Ebonv. 

 •ees or slinihv. ^vitli alternate, rarely opposite, entire 



e pistillate (.It, II v(,!it,,rv. yellowish or whitish; calyx 

 .Nil' ; l.ihed; stamens usually 8-16, 

 I berry, 1-10-seeded, bearing 



It the base; seed flat, rather 

 ■II -[.•'■!• - ill the tropics, few in colder 

 few cultivated species are ornamental 

 dsome, lustrous foliage, rarely attacked 

 s and with decorative and edible fr. The only 

 hich is tolerably hardy north is/). I'lrt/iniana, 

 while J}. Kttki, much cultivated in Japan for its large, 

 edible fruits, is hardy only in the southern states. 

 Most species have valuable hard and close-grained wood, 

 and that of some tropical speciel is known as ebony. 

 They thrive in almost any soil, but require, in cooler 

 climates, sheltered and sunny positions. Prop, by seeds 

 and by cuttings of half-ripened wood or layers ; the 

 tropical species by cuttings of mature wood in spring, 

 with bottom heat; the fruit-bearing varieties are usually 

 grafted or budded on seedling stock of />. Vivffifnana. 

 See Persimmon. 



Virgini4na, Linn. Common Persimmon. Fig. 716. 

 Tree, to 50 ft., rarely to 100 ft., with round-topped head 

 and spreading, often pendulous branches: Ivs. ovate or 

 elliptic, acuminate, shining above, glabrous at length or 

 pubescent beneath, 3-6 in. long : fls. short-stalked, 

 greenish yellow, staminate in 3's, M in. long, with 16 

 stamens; pistillate solitary, larger.with 4 2-lobed styles, 

 connate at the base; fr. globose or obovate, plum-like, 

 with the enlarged calyx at the base, 1-1 J^ in. in diara., 

 pale orange, often with red cheek, edible, varying in 

 size, color and flavor. June. Conn, to Fla., west to 

 Kans. andTex. S.S. 6:252, 253. G.F. 8:265. Mn.4:21. 



Ldtus, Linn. Round-headed tree, to 40 ft.: Ivs. ellip- 

 tic or oblong, acuminate, pubescent, often glabrous above 

 at length, 3-5 in. long: fls. reddish white, staminate in 

 3's, with 16 stamens, pistillate solitary: fr. black when 

 ripe, globular. K-K in. in diam., edible. June. W.Asia 

 to China. A.G. 12:460. 



K4ki, Linn. f. Kaki. Fig. 717. Tree, to 40 ft., with 

 round head : Ivs. ovate-elliptic, oblong-ovate or obovate, 

 acuminate, subcoriaceous, glabrous and shining above, 

 sparingly hairy or glabrous beneath, 3-7 in. long : fls. 

 yellowish white, staminate with 16-24 stamens, pistil- 

 late to % in. long; styles divided to the base, pubescent: 

 fr. large, 1^-3 in. across, very variable in shape and 

 size, mostly resembling a tomato. .Tune. Jap.. China. 

 E.H. 1870, pp. 412, 413 ; 1872, pp. 254,255 (as J). Box- 



