If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Diospyros abyssinica

(Hiern) F.White

Ebenaceae

+ Synonyms

Diospyros ubanghensis A.Chev.

Diospyros welwitschii Hiern

Ebenus abyssinica (Hiern) Kuntze

Ebenus mualala (Welw. ex Hiern) Kuntze

Maba abyssinica Hiern.

Maba mualala Welw. ex Hiern

Maba ubanghensis A.Chev.

Maba warneckei Gürke

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Diospyros abyssinica is a tall, evergreen tree with a relatively small, mushroom-shaped crown and a straight, slender bole growing up to about 20 metres tall, but sometimes reaching a height of 40 metres when growing in forests[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. In larger specimens, the straight and slender bole can be branchless for up to 18 metres and up to 75cm in diameter, often with small buttresses[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and local medicinal uses.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Drier areas of tropical Africa from Guinea to Eritrea, south to Angola and Mozambique..

Habitat

Highland forest on drier sites and upper slopes, often in shallow soils, at elevations from 750 - 2,000 metres in Eritrea[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. Found in a wide diversity of forest types, and also in woodland and thickets[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height15.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the dry to moist tropics where it can be found at elevations of 200 - 2,500 metres. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 650 - 2,050mm, though its presence in drier areas depends on the availability of water along watercourses, from runoff from rocky outcrops, or in water-retaining soils of termite mounds[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

We have seen no individual confirmation for this species, but in general Diospyros species are dioecious and require both male and female forms to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
899
Title
Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
Year
2002
ISBN
983-2181-27-5
Description
A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
Trees respond well to pruning, pollarding and coppicing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Various parts of the plants are used in traditional medicine.

The bark and roots are used as a treatment for various diseases[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Leaf and roots decoctions are used to treat malaria and dysentery, and to promote wound healing[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A root decoction is taken to treat leprosy[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is considered to be a pioneer specie in its native range, and is particularly characteristic in the early stages of forest succession. However, it can also persist in old forest and may even regenerate there under shady conditions[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

The heartwood is whitish yellow to pale grey-brown, often with irregular black streaks or entirely black in the centre; it is not distinctly demarcated from the wide, whitish to yellowish sapwood. The texture is usually fine, usually straight-grained, sometimes interlocked; the freshly cut wood has an unpleasant aroma[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The wood is hard and tough, difficult to plane and not durable[
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
]. It is used particularly for making implements and tool handles, it is also used for heavy flooring, poles, interior trim, mine props, furniture, cabinet making, masts of dhows, musical instruments, ladders, toys, novelties, pestles, mortars, golf club heads, sticks, carving and turnery. The wood is also in demand for loom shuttles in weaving sisal cloth[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
396
Title
Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea
Publication
 
Author
Bein. E.; Habte. B.; Jaber. A.; Birnie. A. & Tengnas. B.
Publisher
Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi
Year
1996
ISBN
9966-896-24-4
Description
A very well written and concise guide to almost 200 species. It gives a brief description of each plant together with its habitat, uses, propagation and cultivation. Line drawings of each plant are also included It can be downloaded from the internet
].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so should be sown as soon as possible[
325
Title
Seed Leaflets
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title
Publisher
Forest & Landscape. Denmark
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
]. The flesh should be removed since this contains germination inhibitors[
325
Title
Seed Leaflets
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title
Publisher
Forest & Landscape. Denmark
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
]. Sow the seed in a shady position in a nursery seedbed. The sowing media for ebony uses soil and fine sand at the ratio 3:1. The seed is planted horizontally or vertically with the radicle end down, with a sowing depth of 1 - 1½ times the thickness of seed. Distance between the seeds is 3 - 5cm. Seeds are very sensitive to desiccation during germination and early growth, so must be regularly watered at this time[
325
Title
Seed Leaflets
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title
Publisher
Forest & Landscape. Denmark
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
]. Normally the seed will germinate after one week. In one trial, fresh seed, sown one day after collection, showed 85% germination rate within 17 - 65 days[
325
Title
Seed Leaflets
Publication
 
Author
Various
Website
http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Publikationer/Udgivelser/PopulaerPublikationer.aspx?katid={D28373CC-6EF3-4EF8-B097-6D83FABF209E}&serieid={9F1C3DB1-6E7B-4CF1-AF53-F480B0CB40EF}&sort=title
Publisher
Forest & Landscape. Denmark
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of leaflets, jointly produced by the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, focussing on seed information for a number species, but also giving a lot of other information about each plant.
].
As a rule fresh seeds have a high percentage of fertility. The seedlings develop long taproots at an early stage, often before any appreciable elongation of the shoot takes place. The growth of the seedling is decidedly slow [
652
Title
The Silviculture of Indian Trees
Publication
 
Author
Troup. R.S.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Oxford, at the Clarendon Press
Year
1921
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent treatment.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Diospyros+abyssinica>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.