Diospyros ovalifolia

Diospyros ovalifolia, known as bastard ebony,[1] is a tree in the family, Ebenaceae (Ebony family), endemic to the leeward side of South Sahyadri of Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka.

Diospyros ovalifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Diospyros
Species:
D. ovalifolia
Binomial name
Diospyros ovalifolia

Description

Full grown trees usually stand 12m tall.[2]

Young branches are sparse-adpressed hairy. Leaves are simple, alternate, and distichous. Petiole is 0.5-1.0 cm long, canaliculate and glabrous. Lamina is 5-13 x 1.5–5 cm, usually narrow obovate. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous with entire margin. Secondary veins are in 6-9 pairs.[2]

Ecology

Trees are found in dry evergreen forests up to 800 m altitude. With mature crowns occupying the canopy layer of the forest, they are known as canopy trees.[2]

Vernacular names

The plant is known as:

  • Malayalam: Karimaram, Vedukkanari, Karimpala[1]
  • Sinhala: KunuMaella[3]
  • Others: Karimbala, Vedi kandru, Karimaram[1]

Flowering

Flowering and fruiting is usually in between March–August.[1]

References
  1. "Diospyros ovalifolia Wt". Biodiversity India Portal. Biodiversity India Portal. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  2. "Diospyros ovalifolia Wt. - EBENACEAE". Biodiversity Informatics and co-Operation in Taxonomy for Interactive shared Knowledge base (BIOTIK). BIOTIK. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  3. "Botanical Names - Sinhala names". Traditional Sinhala place names of cities in Sri Lanka. Professor Chandre Dharmawardana. Retrieved September 8, 2013.

External resources
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