Diospyros

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Diospyros (ebony; family Ebenaceae) A genus of small, dark trees which have monopodial crowns and charcoal-like outer bark. The heartwood is hard, dense, and dark brown streaked with black, and is a valuable timber. The plants are dioecious. The fruit is a berry, seated on the persistent calyx. There are few seeds, which are bony. In several species the pericarp is edible. The persimmons are D. kaki, D. lotus, and D. virginiana. There are about 500 species, occurring in the warm parts of the world.