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Diospyros diepenhorstii Miq.
| Family Name: | Ebenaceae |
| Synonyms: | Diospyros pyrifera Ridl. |
| Common Name: | Kayu Arang |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 30 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Thailand, Sumatra, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Borneo, and Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Mountain, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree up to 30 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its alternate, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are papery to leathery, green, oblong, and 10–50 by 3–14 cm, with secondary veins that arch and become less visible towards the leaf blade margins. |
| Flowers | Its male flowering shoots are up to 2 cm long, with each bearing many male flowers. Its female flowering shoots are up to 4 cm long, with each bearing many female flowers in clusters. Both male and female flowering shoots develop from older twigs, branches and trunk. |
| Fruit | Its fruits are drop-shaped to oblong-ellipsoid, up to 10 by 8 cm, vertically ribbed, and ripen yellow. They develop in clusters, and contain up to 16 seeds each enclosed in a thin, fruit pulp. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland primary and hill to lower montane forests, up to 1800 m altitude. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated. Its fruits are eaten by mammals. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Generic name Diospyros is derived from two Greek words, dios (divine) and pyros (wheat), meaning divine wheat. Specific epithet diepenhorstii commerating H. Diepenhorst, an amateur Dutch botanist |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The acidic fruits are edible. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.0 (Tree - Dense Canopy) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1558 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2851 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
