Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.
Family – Ebenaceae
Local name – Gaub, Indian persimmon
Habit – Tree
Habitat – Shady and wet sites near streams
Location – Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Date – 26/6/21
IPNI – Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel., Allg. Med.-Pharm. Fl. 3: 1099 (1834).
(Photo credit – Rajkumari supriya devi)
Morphology
🌼The bark is black, smooth, and the inner bark turns bluish on exposure to sunlight
🌼Leaves simple, alternate or subopposite, oblong
🌼Fruits ovoid or globose, yellow when ripe
🌼Flowers unisexual, males 3-12 together in pani-cled drooping cymes, females considerably longer than the males.
Medicinal uses
Bark extract has shown significant anti-diarrheal activity.
Reference
Kaushik V, Saini V, Panduranga A, Khosa RL, Parcha V. (2013) A review of phytochemical & biological studies of Diospyros malabarica. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Letters. 2(6): 167-169.
(Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)