Diospyros virginiana L.
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Authority
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
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Family
Ebenaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Tree to 15 m, sometimes colonial, with deeply furrowed and cross-checked bark; lvs oval or oblong, 8–15 cm, shortly acuminate, on petioles 1–2 cm; fls greenish-yellow, the staminate solitary or 2–3 together, 1 cm., with usually 16 linear, acuminate anthers about as long as the cor-tube, the pistillate solitary, 1.5–2 cm, with larger cal and usually 8 sterile anthers; ovary mostly 8-locellar; fr yellowish-brown, 2–4 cm thick, edible after frost; 2n=60, 90. Mostly in dry woods; se. Conn. and s. N.Y. to Fla., w. to Io., Kans., and Tex. Var. virginiana, chiefly e. of the Miss. R., has glabrous twigs with thin lvs acute or cuneate at base and glabrous or nearly so beneath. Var. pubescens (Pursh) Dippel, chiefly w. of the Miss. R., has hirsutulous twigs with firm lvs broadly cuneate to rounded or subcordate at base and usually thinly but permanently hairy beneath.