Velvet apple » Balinghasai Farms

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)