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
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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