Common Name:

General Information

Diospyros sandwicensis is a small, slow-growing tree, usually growing 7 - 13 metres tall[].
The plant is utilised locally from the wild as a source of timber and medicines.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Pacific - Hawaii.

Habitat

It occurs, sometimes as a dominant plant, in dry to moist forests and occasionally in wet forests, growing at elevations ranging from almost sea level to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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

Fruit[]. The fruit is about 18cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The plant is often used medicinally in Hawaii, but usually as a secondary ingredient in combination with other herbs. It is used mainly in external applications to treat problems such as burns, cuts, boils, abscesses, bruises, and cold sores[].

Other Uses

The reddish-brown wood is very hard and close-grained[]. It is traditionally used for making statues of gods, for house posts, and house fences[].

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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