Read about Ebenaceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Ebenaceae (from the Latin ebenus, meaning ebony). Ebony Family. Fig. 48. Trees or shrubs: leaves alternate, coriaceous, entire: flowers rarely bisexual, usually dioecious, regular; calyx 3-6-parted, persistent; corolla 3-6-lobed, hypogynous, gamopetalous, urceolate, coriaceous, mostly imbricated and twisted; stamens short, usually double the number of the corolla-lobes, rarely as many or more numerous, hypogynous or epipetalous, separate or united in pairs; ovary superior, 2-16-celled, with 1-2 suspended ovules in each cell; styles and stigmas 2-8: fruit berry-like, rarely sub-dehiscent. In this family are 5 genera and about 280 species, of which 180 belong to the genus Diospyros; they are inhabitants of tropical and subtropical regions, principally of the eastern hemisphere. The greatest development of the family is in the East Indies and Malay Archipelago. One species of Diospyros occurs in the eastern United States, from Rhode Island southward. The family is related to the Styracaceae, Symplocaceae and Sapotaceae. The superior several-celled ovary, unisexual flowers and absence of milky juice are important distinctive characters. The wood of many species, especially of the genus Diospyros, furnishes the ebony of commerce. The fruit of Diospyros Lotus is known as date plum in Asia. The fruit of the persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is also edible. The bark of persimmon is sometimes used in medicine. Three or 4 genera are in cultivation in North America for ornamental purposes. Maba, from Natal, and Royena, from South Africa, are not hardy. Diospyros (Common Persimmon and Kaki), hardy or tender, depending on the species, is grown for ornament or fruit.
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 persimmon tree（Diospyros kaki L.f.） | ||||||||||
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| Diospyros |
The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants, which includes ebony and persimmon. The family has approximately 500 species of trees and shrubs in two genera, Diospyros and Euclea. The species are mostly evergreen and native to the tropics and subtropics, with a few deciduous species native to temperate regions. Diospyros contains 450-500 species and a pantropical distribution, with the greatest diversity of species in Indomalaya. Euclea contains 20 species, native to Africa, the Comoro Islands, and Arabia. A persistent calyx on the fruits is characteristic of the family.