Diospyros » Balinghasai Farms

Diospyros maritima

What we grow No Responses »

Jan 152013

Specimen : Semi-cultivated

Habitat : Sandy beach

Local name : Malatinta

Trade name : Sea persimmon

Botanical name : Diospyros maritima

Family : Ebenaceae

Specimen height : 6-8 meters

Fruiting season : Matured fruits observed in October

Traits : Dioecious; Drought tolerant; Evergreen; Salt-resistant; Small to medium-sized tree; Tolerant of infertile soil; Wind hardy

Recommendations : Coastal stabilization; Erosion control; Farms; Landscaping; Living fence; Large avenues; Mangrove management; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Urban greening; Windbreak

Used for : Fruit pulp reportedly edible; Wood for furniture, interior siding, paneling, veneer, canes, musical instruments, golf club heads, tool handles, riffle butts, novelties; Carving; Fuelwood and charcoal

Native range : Japan, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Pacific islands

National conservation status : Not threatened in the Philippines

Possible threat : Coastal reclamations and developments

(Note : The local name of this species may have been derived from the ink-like, bluish or reddish grey fluid that oozes out of the fruit when squeezed)

Native wild edible : Diospyros lanceifolia

What we grow No Responses »

Jan 052013

Materials identified by : Ulysses Ferreras (Field Botanist)

Specimen : Wild trees

Habitats : Riparian forests, wooded creekbanks

Botanical name : Diospyros lanceifolia

Family : Ebenaceae

Specimen height : 4 - 8 meters

Fruiting season : May to July

Traits: Dioecious; Evergreen; Low to medium altitude tree; Shade tolerant; Small to medium-sized tree

Recommendations: Farms; Fruit collector’s; Home gardens; Landscaping tree; Living fence; Ornamental tree; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Edible seeds; Wood used in making furnitures

Native range : The Philippines

National conservation status : Not threatened

Possible threats : Clearing of woodlands for industrial, commercial or residential use; Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuelwood and charcoal production; Wood poaching

Note : Rojo noted 3 forms of this species that naturally occur in the Philippines and all are endemic : forma cagayanensis, forma sabtanensis and forma wenzelii

Native wild edible : Diospyros blancoi

Native wild edibles, What we grow No Responses »

Dec 102012

I’ve been reading but correct me if I’m wrong : Diospyros blancoi is not Diospyros philippinensis and these two are often confused as one and the same. Reliable literatures suggest that they are separate species. Diospyros blancoi, however, is synonymous to Diospyros philippensis and Diospyros discolor. The mistaken identity may have been caused by the absence of available images of Diospyros philippinensis in books and online and also the accidental rhyming of Diospyros philippinensis and Diospyros philippensis; an unknowing reader/researcher would think that the latter is just the misspelt version of the former, right? In Rojo’s Revised Lexicon of Philippine Trees book, the former has the local name of “O-oi”. If this is indeed a fact, I would like to see live images of Diospyros philippinensis, much better though if live specimen. This tree must be regarded just the same as we regard our proud Mabolo/Kamagong (Diospyros blancoi), after all it’s also an Ebony (a name for a group of important related tree species specially characterized by their hard and dense wood which comes streaked or dark or plain) - and it carries our name with it!

Anyway, here’s your Diospyros blancoi.

Specimen : Cultivated

Local names : Mabolo, Kamagong

Trade name : Velvet apple, Camagon

Botanical name : Diospyros blancoi

Family : Ebenaceae

Specimen height : 14 meters or higher

Fruiting season : Possibly year-round

Traits: Dioecious; Evergreen; Low to medium altitude tree; Medium-sized tree; Tolerant of infertile soil; Typhoon resistant; Wind hardy

Recommendations: Agroforestry; Backyards; Coastal stabilization; Farms; Fruit collector’s; Home gardens; Landscaping tree; Large avenues; Living fence; Ornamental tree; Plantations; Public spaces; Riparian management; Roadside tree; Shade tree; Timber belt; Urban greening; Wildcrafting; Windbreak

Used for : Edible fruit; Edible seeds; Fruit may be cooked and eaten as vegetable; Premium wood for furnitures, wooden decors, veneer, musical instruments and for carving

Native range : Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines

National conservation status : Critically Endangered Species (DENR AO 2007-1)

Native wild edible : Diospyros pyrrhocarpa

Native wild edibles, What we grow No Responses »

Jul 242012

Specimen : Wild trees

Habitat : Old-growth riverine forest

Local name : Anang

Botanical name : Diospyros pyrrhocarpa

Family : Ebenaceae
Specimen height : 5-10 meters

Trunk : Erect, lean, slighty buttressed; Bark smooth to cracked, dull grey, mossy or lichenous

Leaf : Alternate; Elliptic, apex acuminate, base acute,
firm, glossy, rich green

Fruit : Berry; Round (about 1.5-2.5 cms in width and 3-4 cms in length), brown, velvety, with enlarged crown-like 4-parted calyx; Rind whitish, thick; Seeds large, elongated, brown, numerous (3-8 or more), surrounded by thin translucent edible aril

Fruiting season : May to September

Traits : Dioecious; Evergreen; Low to medium altitude tree; Shade tolerant; Small to medium-sized tree

Recommendations : Agroforestry; Backyard planting; Fruit collector’s item; Garden tree; Living fence; Reforestation tree; Riparian management; Specimen tree; Wildcrafting

Used for : Aril surrounding the seed is edible; The timber is known as ebony and is used for carving and in making furnitures

Native range : Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and The Philippines

National conservation status : Endangered Species (DENR AO 2007-1)

Threat : Indiscriminate cutting of wild trees for fuelwood and charcoal production