DIOSPYROS

genus of over 400 species of trees and shrubs of the ebony family (Ebenaceae), either deciduous or evergreen, most of which are native to the tropics. The usually alternate leaves are entire (i.e., smooth-edged). The fruit is a large juicy berry with one to 10 seeds. Some members of the genus are valuable for their timber, particularly several species of ebony. Others are cultivated for their handsome foliage or edible fruit. Chief among the latter are the common, or American, persimmon (D. virginiana), native to North America, and the Japanese, or kaki, persimmon (D. kaki), native to China but widely cultivated in other temperate regions. The globular orange fruit of D. virginiana is about 4 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter. The tree grows about 10 to 12 m (33 to 40 feet) tall and bears yellowish white, bell-shaped flowers. D. kaki grows 12 m (39 feet) tall or more and bears yellowish white flowers and orange-red fruit about 7.5 cm (3 inches) in diameter. Several hundred varieties of D. kaki have been developed. Other species include the date plum (D. lotus), the black sapote (D. digyna), and the mabola (D. discolor).