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Useful Tropical Plants

Diospyros costaricensis

Provance & A.C. Sanders

Ebenaceae


This species is closely related to Diospyros conzattii and has only been separated from it since 2006. Many of the reports for Diospyros conzattii are likely to also apply to this species[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Diospyros costaricensis is a large, deciduous tree that can grow up to 35 metres tall. The bole, which can be up to 1.5 metres in diameter, has large buttresses[
554
Title
Sida Vol.22
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, it includes an article on the Diopyros of Mexico and Central America.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its fruit and timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

554
Title
Sida Vol.22
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, it includes an article on the Diopyros of Mexico and Central America.

Range

Central America - Costa Rica.

Habitat

Seasonally wet deciduous forests at elevations from 600 - 1,200 metres[
554
Title
Sida Vol.22
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, it includes an article on the Diopyros of Mexico and Central America.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Tree
Height30.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of medium elevations in the tropics, being found from 600 - 1,20 metres. It is found in areas where there is a distinct dry season of around 5 months and the mean annual rainfall is in the region of 1,500mm[
554
Title
Sida Vol.22
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, it includes an article on the Diopyros of Mexico and Central America.
].


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.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
553
Title
Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences Vol. 12
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Washington Academy of Sciences; Washington.
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Includues the original publication of the species Diospyros conzattii. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. An exquisite flavour[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
553
Title
Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences Vol. 12
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Washington Academy of Sciences; Washington.
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Includues the original publication of the species Diospyros conzattii. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The fruit is about 4cm wide and 2.5cm long, containing 5 - 10 fairly large seeds[
553
Title
Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences Vol. 12
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Washington Academy of Sciences; Washington.
Year
1922
ISBN
 
Description
Includues the original publication of the species Diospyros conzattii. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is valuable[
554
Title
Sida Vol.22
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Year
2006
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, it includes an article on the Diopyros of Mexico and Central America.
].

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+costaricensis>

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