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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
The plant is known as:
Flowering edit
Flowering and fruiting is usually in between March–August.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Diospyros ovalifolia Wt". Biodiversity India Portal. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Diospyros ovalifolia Wt. - EBENACEAE". Biodiversity Informatics and co-Operation in Taxonomy for Interactive shared Knowledge base (BIOTIK). BIOTIK. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- ^ "Botanical Names - Sinhala names". Traditional Sinhala place names of cities in Sri Lanka. Professor Chandre Dharmawardana. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
External resources edit
- "Diospyros ovalifolia Wight". IOR-ARC Medicinal Plants Network. IOR-ARC RCSTT Medicinal Plant Network. Retrieved September 8, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- "Type of Diospyros ovalifolia Wight [family EBENACEAE]". JSTOR Global Plants. JSTOR. June 18, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- "Diospyros ovalifolia Wight". The Plant List (2010). Version 1. The Plant List 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- "Woody Species Diospyros ovalifolia". TAXA Wood Knowledge Base. www.prowebcanada.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
- "Icones Plantarum Indiae Orientalis". The International Plant Names Index. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved September 8, 2013.