Common Name:

General Information

Diospyros gardneri is a medium-sized tree[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is a source of Bombay ebony[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Sri Lanka.

Habitat

Forests in moist areas of Sri Lanka at elevations up to 600 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics[].

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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is greyish-brown with irregular black-clouded patches[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a very short viability and so should be sown as soon as possible[]. The flesh should be removed since this contains germination inhibitors[]. 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[]. 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[].
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 [].

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