Ebenaceae

Diospyros artanthifolia Mart ex Miq.

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Species Parent: Diospyros Status: Invalid Reason: unverified

Morphological Description

Diagnosis: Small tree to 4 m tall. Stems drying dark black with some tan mottling, light tannish tomentose pubescent; ant domatia and tunnels present in some individuals, leaving holes along the stem. Leaves simple, alternate; the petioles 1.0-1.3 cm long, dark brown to black when dry, tan to brown tomentose pubescent; the lamina ovate, elliptic, to lanceoloate, 10-15 x 6-10 cm, brown when dry, tan tomentose pubescent especially abaxially, weakly coriaceous; the base sometimes asymmetric, or rounded; the apex short-acuminate, the acumen to 0.5 cm long; the margins entire, strongly revolute; the secondary venation lightly to strongly brochidodromous, sometimes anastomosing near the margin. Staminate inflorescence unknown. Pistillate inflorescence compact, axillary, 2-4-fasciculate. Pistillate flowers unknown, except for persistent calyx lobes to 0.3 cm long, brown when mature, light tan tomentose pubescenct. Fruit a berry, round, to 2.5 cm in immature stage, green to greenish-black, fleshy, juicy, light tan tomentose pubescent, subtended by persistent, recurved calyx lobes. Seeds 5-8 per fruit. Uncommon in open to mixed palm swamp forest.