Handbook of Trees of the JSTorthekn States and Canada. 379 



The Persimmon tree ordiiiarly does not at- 

 tain a greater lieight than 40 or 50 ft., but in 

 the fertile valleys of southern Indiana and 

 Illinois it has been known to attain 100 ft. 

 in height, with trunk 2 or 3 ft. in thickness. 

 As an isolated tree it develops a rather broad 

 rounded or flattened top with contorted 

 branches. An attractive tree at all seasons, 

 it is particularly so in autumn, ■ when its 

 bright orange-colored fruit shows in strong con- 

 trast to its green foliage, or later when con- 

 spicuous on its otherwise naked branches. 

 The fruit is rich in tannin and very astringent 

 until thoroughly ripe and soft, when it is ordi- 

 narily delicious, though individual trees differ 

 in quality of fruit. 



The wood is heavy, a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighing 49.28 lbs., hard and fine- 

 grained, and is used in turner}' for small arti- 

 cles of wooden-ware, shoe-lasts, shuttles, etc.i 



Its fruit is often found in the markets of 

 southern cities, when in season. It is quite 

 variable in quality, and is occasionally found 

 comparatively free from astringent properties. 

 By careful selection and propagation trees 

 bearing superior fruit could no doubt be se- 

 cured worthy of propagation. 



Leaves ovate to oblong and oval, obtuse, 3-7 

 in. long, rounded or siibcordate at base, acumi- 

 nate, pubescent at first but at maturity lustroi's 

 dark green above, paler and pubescent beneath, 

 coriaceous. Floircrs (May-.Iune) short-peduncu- 

 late ; staminate in 2-.'!-flowerpd cymes ; pistillate 

 solitary ; corolla greenish yellow ; stamens of the 

 sterile flowers about Ifi and of the pistillate 

 flowers rudimentary and only 8 ; ovary nearly 

 glabrous. 8-celled ; styles 4. slender. Fruit mostly 

 depressed globose, 1-1 1/2 in. in diameter, pale 

 orange, often with red cheeks, glaucous, subtended 

 by the enlarged calyx, persistent into the winter ; 

 seeds oblong, flattened. = 



1. A. W., Ill, 61. 



2. For genus see p. 4.53. 



