Diospyros vera (Lour.) A.Chev. Cat. Pl. Jard. Bot. Saigon 31 (1919)

Synonyms
Diospyros angustifolia (Miq.) Kosterm. [Illegitimate]
Diospyros buxifolia Thouars
Diospyros compacta (R.Br.) Kosterm.
Diospyros egbert-walkeri Kosterm.
Diospyros ferrea (Willd.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea Bakhuizen
Diospyros ferrea forma angustata Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. angustifolia (Miq.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. angustifolia (Miq.) M. Mohanan
Diospyros ferrea var. aroeensis Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. buxifolia (Rottb.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. buxoides Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. compacta (R.Br.) Fosberg
Diospyros ferrea var. diffusa (Hiern) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. ellipsoidea Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. geminata (R.Br.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma globosa Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. guineensis (Schumach. & Thonn.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. humilis (R.Br.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. indonesica Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. lamponga (Miq.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma lamponga (Miq.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma laurina (R.Br.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. littorea (R.Br.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma oblanceolata Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma oblonga Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma oblongata Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma obovata Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. reticulata (R.Br.) Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea var. salomonensis Bakh.
Diospyros ferrea forma subelliptica Bakh.
Diospyros geminata (R.Br.) F.Muell.
Diospyros humilis (R.Br.) F.Muell.
Diospyros littorea (R.Br.) Kosterm.
Diospyros nigrescens (Dalzell) C.J.Saldanha
Diospyros salomonensis (Bakh.) Kosterm.
Ebenoxylum verum Lour.
Ebenus compacta (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ebenus geminata (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ebenus hemicyclodes (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Kuntze
Ebenus humilis (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ebenus lamponga (Miq.) Kuntze
Ebenus laurina (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ebenus nigrescens (Dalzell) Kuntze
Ebenus obovata (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ebenus reticulata (R.Br.) Kuntze
Ferreola buxifolia (Rottb.) Roxb.
Ferreola ebenus Stokes
Ferreola guineensis Schumach. & Thonn.
Maba angustifolia Miq.
Maba buxifolia (Rottb.) Pers.
Maba buxifolia (Rottb.) Juss.
Maba buxifolia var. littorea (R.Br.) Hiern
Maba caningiana A. DC.
Maba compacta R.Br.
Maba cumingiana A.DC.
Maba diffusa Hiern
Maba ebenoxylon G.Don [Illegitimate]
Maba ebenus Wight [Illegitimate]
Maba ferrea (Willd.) Aubr.
Maba geminata R.Br.
Maba guineensis A.DC.
Maba hemicycloides F.Muell. ex Benth.
Maba humilis R.Br.
Maba interstans F.Muell.
Maba lamponga Miq.
Maba laurina R.Br.
Maba littorea R.Br.
Maba neilgherrensis A. DC.
Maba nigrescens Dalzell
Maba obovata R.Br.
Maba papuana Hiern
Maba reticulata R.Br.
Maba rosea Montrouz.
Maba secundiflora Hutch.
Maba smeathmannii A.DC.
Maba vacciniifolia Benth.

Diagnostics
Trees up to 12 m tall with black bark. Leaves simple, alternate and distichous, 3-11 by 1.5-7 cm. Stipules absent. Flowers unisexual on separate trees, male flowers grouped in cyme. Female flowers solitary, rarely grouped in cyme. Fruit berry-like, ellipsoid to globose, 1-1.5 by 0.5-1 cm; woody and glabrous when mature, 3 sepals persistent. Fruit with 1 to 3 seeds, rarely 6.

Description
Trees up to 12 m tall with black bark, exudates absent. Leaves simple, alternate and distichous, 3-11 by 1.5-7 cm, oblong or elliptic or obovate, apex acute, base acute to attenuate or slightly rounded, margin entire, blade coriaceous, glabrous on both sides. Midrib flat above, primary vein single, secondary veins oblique to the midrib, widely parallel, tertiary veins oblique. Petiole pubescent later glabrescent. Stipules absent. Flowers unisexual on separate trees, male flowers grouped in cyme, sessile or subsessile. Female flowers solitary, rarely grouped in cyme. Pedicel less than 5 mm long. Fruit berry-like, ellipsoid to globose, 1-1.5 by 0.5-1 cm sized; young fruit green, woody and glabrous when mature, 3 sepals persistent. Fruit with 1 to 3 seeds, rarely 6.

Ecology
In evergreen forest up to ca. 500 m elevation.

Uses
The wood is said to be used for cabinet work. The bark can be used to make a cordage. The wood is used for walking sticks and for ornamental carvings.

Distribution
From India, Sri Lanka, southern China and Taiwan to Indochina, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific and Australia.

Local names
Xiang ya shu (China)