Common Name:

General Information

Diospyros heterotricha is a deciduous shrub or a tree, usually with several stems, growing up to 3 metres tall
The plant is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit. It is cultivated for its fruit in west Africa.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Congo, DR Congo, Angola.

Habitat

Bushy places and at the outskirts of forests, especially in wooded mountainous places, and frequently
alongside high roads; shady woods; hilly thickets on a red muddy soil[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - in general the seed of Diospyros species 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[].
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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