6 EBENACEiE. Diospyros. 



succulent. Seeds few, with a smooth coriaceous testa. Embryo in the axis of 

 cartilaginous albumen : cotyledons foliaceous. — Trees or shrubs, destitute of 

 milky juice, with alternate mostly entire leaves. 



1. DIOSPYROS. Linn. ; Endl. gen. 4.2i9. persimmon. 



[ From the Greek, dis, dios, Jupiter, and pyros, fruit ; meaning heavenly fruit.] 



Calyx deeply 4 - 6-cleft. Corolla urceolate, 4 — 6-cleft. Sterile fl. Stamens 8 - 16. 

 Ovary rudimentary. Perfect fl. Stamens abortive. Ovary 8 - 12-celled, with a single 

 ovule in each cell : styles 2-4, more or less united at the base : stigmas simple or 2-cleft. 

 Fruit globose, 8 - 12-seeded. Seeds compressed. Embryo straight. — Trees or shrubs, 

 with entire leaves. Flowers axillary, nearly sessile. Peduncles few-flowered. 



1. Diospyros Virginiana, Linn. Peisimmon. 



Leaves ovate or oval, acuminate, nearly smooth above, more or less pubescent underneath ; 

 petioles pubescent; buds smooth ; flowers tetramerous. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1057; Michx.jl. 2. 

 p. 258, and f. sylv. 2. t. 93 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 265 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 712 ; Wats, dendr. Brit, 

 t. 146 ; Beck, hot. p. 229 ; Audub. birds Am. t. 87 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 244 ; DC.prodr. 

 8. p. 228. 



A tree 15 - 40 feet high and seldom (in this State) more than 6 or 10 inches in diameter, 

 irregularly branched, with a dark-colored furrowed bark. Leaves 2-4 inches or more in 

 length, varying from ovate to oblong, often cordate at the base, somewhat coriaceous, nearly 

 smooth on both sides when old, paler and a little glaucous underneath. Flowers axillary, 

 1-3 together. Sterile fl. Calyx hairy externally ; the segments lanceolate. Corolla pale 

 greenish yellow, obtusely 4-angled, somewhat coriaceous. Stamens 16, in a double series; 

 the inner series opposite the exterior, and their filaments united with them at the base in 

 pairs : filaments very short : anthers large, lanceolate, acute, villous at the base ; the cells 

 opening longitudinally. Ovary abortive, with a slender 4-clcft style. Fertile fl. Calyx 

 larger than in the sterile flowers. Stamens usually 8 : anthers abortive, villous. Ovary about 

 8-celled : style short : stigmas 4. Fruit roundish, about an inch in diameter, reddish orange 

 when ripe, fleshy, very astringent until it has been acted on by frost, and then soft and luscious. 

 Seeds 6-8, large, dark purple. 



Rich moist lands ; southern part of the State ; not found north or west of the Highlands. 

 Fl. June. Fr. October and November. The bark of the tree, like the unripe fruit, is very 

 astringent. An infusion is employed as a gargle for ulcerated sore throat, and it is said also 

 to cure intermittent fevers. The sapwood is of a greenish color, and the heart is brownish, 

 close-grained and tough. In the Southern States, where the tree attains a considerable size, 

 the wood is sometimes employed for articles requiring the qualities of strength and elasticity. 

 The ripe fruit, after having been frozen and rendered palatable, is often seen in the New-York 

 markets. 



