Volume 2 > Part 4 > Year 1981 > Page 308 > Ebenaceae > Diospyros

12. Diospyros montana Roxb.wfo-0000649364

Pl. Corom.: 37. t. 48. 1795; Hiern, Trans. Camb. Phil. Soc. 12.1: 220. 1873; Bakh., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg Sér 3. 15: 200. 1938; H.R.Fletcher in Fl. Siam. En. 2: 374. 1938; Ng, Mal. For. 40. 4: 231. 1977. Fig. 12.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Evergreen tree, up to 15 m high; twigs armed. Leaves elliptic, oblong, ovate or obovate, 1.5–12 by 1–5 cm, base acute, rounded, truncate or cordate, apex acute or obtuse, chartaceous, subcoriaceous rarely coriaceous, pubescent, glabrescent on both surfaces; secondary nerves 3–7 pairs, faint, ± impressed on upper surface, prominent on lower surface; tertiary veins impressed on upper surface, inconspicuous on lower surface; petiole 2–10 mm long, pilose. Male flowers cymose, 4-merous; pedicel ± 2 mm long, pubescent, glabrescent. Calyx broadly campanulate, 1–2 mm long, divided ± to the base, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on both sides. Corolla urceolate, 8–10 mm long, divided to half to two thirds, glabrous on both sides. Stamens 14–20, glabrous. Rudimentary ovary hirsute Female flowers solitary, 4-merous; pedicel ± 5 mm long, ± glabrous. Calyx and Corolla as in male flowers. Ovary globose, glabrous, 8-locular; styles 4, glabrous. Staminodes 4–12, glabrous. Fruit globose or ellipsoid, 1–3 by 1–3 cm, dry at maturity, base rounded, apex rounded with short cusp; fruiting calyx divided to the base, pubescent then glabrescent on both sides; lobes spreading horizontally or reflexed, undulate, not plicate, with inconspicuous nerves; fruit-stalk 5–7 mm long; endosperm smooth.

Thailand : Widely distributed throughout the country.

Distribution : India (type), Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, the Philippines.

Ecology : In evergreen forests, on limestone, in scrub and open deciduous forests, 10–600 m alt. Flowering: March–July; fruiting: May–November.

Vernacular : Tan dam (ตานดำ), tan san (ตาลส้าน); maklua pa (มะเกลือป่า), maklua ka (มะเกลือกา), than fai phi (ถ่านไฟผี), mathan fai phi (มะถ่านไฟผี)(Northern, Eastern, Southeastern); matum dam (มะตูมดำ)(Central).

Uses: Timber used for cabinet work; fruit used for poisoning fish.