Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White
subsp. abyssinica

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Southern margin of Inhamitanga Forest near railway line, Coutada 12, Cheringoma

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Synonyms:	Diospyros welwitschii Hiern Maba mualala Welw. ex Hiern
Common names:	Giant diospyros (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Large tree with a relatively sparse and shortly branched crown. Leaves alternate, oblong-elliptic, glossy dark green; midvein channelled above and prominent beneath; apex acuminate; margin entire, wavy. Young leaves distinctly red. Flowers axillary, solitary or in few-flowered clusters, creamy-white to yellow. Fruit fleshy, spherical, held in a lobed cup, yellowish-green turning blue-black when ripe.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	abyssinica: of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Habitat:	In evergreen forest.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Oct - Jan
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa from the Guinea Republic to Eritrea southwards to the FZ area and Angola.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 9 May 2018
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 750. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & White, F. (1990). New and noteworthy plants from the evergreen forests of Malawi Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 60(1/2) Page 77. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 266. As Diospyros abyssinica Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 39. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 64. as Maba mualala Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 80. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 73. White, F. (1983). Ebenaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 262 - 264. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Diospyros abyssinica subsp. abyssinica:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Diospyros abyssinica subsp. abyssinica
Flora of Zambia: Diospyros abyssinica subsp. abyssinica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Diospyros abyssinica subsp. abyssinica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Diospyros abyssinica
African Plant Database: Diospyros abyssinica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Diospyros abyssinica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Diospyros abyssinica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Diospyros abyssinica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Diospyros abyssinica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Diospyros abyssinica
JSTOR Plant Science: Diospyros abyssinica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Diospyros abyssinica
Plants of the World Online: Diospyros abyssinica
Tropicos: Diospyros abyssinica
Wikipedia: Diospyros abyssinica