Diospyros ebenum

Diospyros ebenum is a tree species of the genus Diospyros in the family Ebenaceae. It is commonly known as ebony, but as the word is also applied to other species of the same genus, it is more appropriately called Ceylon ebony.

Description

It is an evergreen dioecious tree up to 20-30 m tall, with dark gray to black bark. The petiolate leaves are elliptical-lanceolate to ovate in shape, 6-15 by 2-5 cm, thin and with a rounded to obtuse apex. The flowers are solitary or organized in cymose inflorescences of 3-15. They measure about 1.2-1.8 cm, the calyx has 4 sepals and the corolla has 4 petals. The male ones have an androecium made up of 16 or 32 stamens and the female ones have a gynoecium with 4 conatus styles and 8 staminodes. They produce a black, globose berry fruit, 3-5 gm in diameter, with triangular-ellipsoid brown-black seeds up to 1.5 cm.

Geographic distribution and habitat

It is a species native to India and Sri Lanka. It was introduced and cultivated as an ornamental in other parts of the world, such as Florida (United States) or the Malaysian Peninsula. It grows in disturbed soils at altitudes close to sea level. It flowers from April to May and fruiting from June to August.

Taxonomy

Diospyros ebenum was described by Johann Gerhard König formerly Anders Jahan Retzius and published in Physiographiska Sälskapets Handlingar, vol. 1 p. 176, 1776.

Etymology

• Godpyros: generic name derived from the Greek word διόσπυρον, built with Διός "from Zeus (God)" and πυρός "grain", "trigo" meaning "grain or fruit of Zeus (God)". The authors of antiquity used the word with different senses: Teofrasto mentions a dióspyros – a tree with small edible fruits of hard bones – the one that seems to be the almez (Celtis australis L., ulmáceas), and Plinio el Viejo (Naturalis History, 27,98) and Dioscorides used it as another Greek name λιθόπερμονOf λιθό, stone and σπερμον, seed, and usually identified with Lithospermum officinale L. Linneo took the generic name of Dalechamps, who called the Godpyros lotus "Godpyros sive Faba Graeca, latifolia".
• ebenum: Latin epithet that means "of ebony."

Sinonimia

• Godpyros assimilis Bedd.
• Godpyros ebenaster Retz.
• Godpyros glaberrima Rottler
• Godpyros laurifolia A.Rich.
• Godpyros melanoxylon Willd.
• Membraceous Godpyros A.DC.
• Godpyros reticulata var. timoriana A.DC.
• Timorian godpyros (A.DC.) Miq.

Cytology

Number of chromosomes: 2 n = 30.

Properties and uses

Wood

The wood of the species has interesting qualities: high hardness (twice as hard as oak), easy to polish, practically without pitting, provides a smooth and shiny surface, resistant to water and termites. The density is very high (up to 1200 kg/m³) and it does not float on water.

Uses

The wood is used in handmade works of art and to produce some parts of musical instruments (for example, grand piano keys), turnery (including chess pieces), and also for inlaid cabinetmaking.

In the past, it was used to make luxury furniture entirely from said wood.

Its value is such that it is sold by weight but, in its countries of origin - for example Sri Lanka - it is illegal to cut and sell ebony.