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Diospyros celebica Bakh.

Family Name:	Ebenaceae
Common Name:	Black Ebony

Diospyros celebica is a tree endemic to Sulawesi. It can reach up to 40 m tall and has black bark. The timber is prized for its ornamental streaking and is used to make carvings, sculptures, furniture, tool handles, musical instruments, toys, and even bowling alleys.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	40 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sulawesi
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree, up to 40 m tall, with black bark.
Foliage	The leaves are linear-elliptical, measuring 12 – 35 cm long and 2.5 – 7 cm wide, and in alternate arrangement. The leaf tip is pointed (acute to obtusely acuminate) while the base is slightly cordate.
Flowers	The flowers are unisexual and occur in a branched cluster (cymose) at the leaf axils. Male inflorescence has 3 – 7 flowers while female inflorescence has 1 – 3 flowers. Both male and female flowers have 4 petals.

Fruit	The fruit is ovoid, measuring 3.5 – 5 cm in long and 3 – 3.5 cm wide, and fleshy.
Habitat	It is found in rainforests, up to 540 m altitude.
Associated Fauna	Flowers are pollinated by insects.
Etymology	The genus epithet comprises of two parts. dios, in Greek, means god while puros, in Greek, means wheat or fruit, which refers to the edible persimmon fruit in the genus. The specific epithet refers to Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Timber & Products: The timber is prized for its ornamental streaking and is used for a wide range of purposes, including carvings, sculptures, cabinets, furniture, tool handles, musical instruments, toys, and even bowling alleys. The heartwood is very hard and dulls tool edges during sawing.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate

Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute, Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cordate

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary

References

References	Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Soerianegara, I., and Wong, W.C. (Editors). 1995. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 5 (2). Timber Trees: Minor commercial timbers. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 655 pages.

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Master ID	34172
Species ID	8585
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.