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| − | '''''Diospyros texana''''' is a species of [[Diospyros|persimmon]] that is native to central, south and west [[Texas]] and southwest [[Oklahoma]] in the United States, and eastern [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Coahuila]], [[Nuevo León]], and [[Tamaulipas]] in northeastern [[Mexico]]. Common names include '''Texas persimmon''', '''Mexican persimmon''' and the more ambiguous '''"[[black persimmon (disambiguation)|black persimmon]]"'''.<ref name="GRIN"/> It is known in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as '''chapote''', '''chapote manzano''', or '''chapote prieto''',<ref name="UTEP">{{cite web |url=http://museum.utep.edu/chih/gardens/plants/DtoF/diospytex.htm |title=Texas Persimmon (''Diospyros texana'') |work=Chihuahuan Desert Plants |publisher=University of Texas at El Paso |date=2006-04-17 |accessdate=2009-11-24}}</ref> all of which are derived from the [[Nahuatl]] word ''[[Sapote|tzapotl]]''. That word also refers to several other fruit-bearing trees.<ref>{{cite journal |jstor=451954 |doi=10.2307/451954|title=Nahuatl Words in American English |first=George |last=Watson |journal=American Speech |volume=13 |number=2 |date=April 1938 |pages=113–114}}</ref>
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| − | ==Description==
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| − | [[File:Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana).JPG|thumb|The seeds, leaves, bark, ripe, and unripe fruit of the persimmon.]]
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| − | ''Diospyros texana'' is a multi-[[Trunk (botany)|trunked]] small [[tree]] or large [[shrub]]<ref name="UTEP"/> with a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brownsville-pub.com/about/TreeGuide_English.pdf |title=Tree Guide for the Rio Grande Valley of Texas |author=Valley Proud Environmental Council |publisher=Brownsville Public Utilities Board |date=2003-11-19 |accessdate=2009-10-20}}</ref> It usually grows to {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, but can reach {{convert|12|m|ft|abbr=on}} on good sites.<ref name="USFS">{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/diotex/all.html |title=Diospyros texana |first=Jennifer H. |last=Carey |work=Fire Effects Information System |publisher=United States Forest Service |year=1994 |accessdate=2009-11-24}}</ref> The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is smooth and light reddish gray<ref name="eFloras">{{cite web |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250092180 |title='''Diospyros texana''' Scheele |work=Flora of North America |publisher=eFloras.org |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> and peels away from mature trees to reveal shades of pink, white, and gray on the trunk.<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/diospyrostexana.htm |title=Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chapote |work=Benny Simpson's Texas Native Trees |publisher=Texas A&M University |accessdate=2009-11-21}}</ref>
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| − | ===Leaves===
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| − | The [[sclerophyll]]us [[Leaf|leaves]]<ref name="USFS"/> are [[Leaf shape|obovate]], dark green, {{convert|2|-|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|-|3|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide. [[Leaf#Tip of the leaf|Apexes]] are obtuse to emarginate. Upper surfaces are glossy while lower surfaces are covered in fine [[Trichome|hairs]] and lack basilaminar glands. Leaves are attached to {{convert|0.1|-|0.5|cm|abbr=on}} [[Petiole (botany)|petioles]].<ref name="eFloras"/> Trees are [[deciduous]] in the north of their range and become [[evergreen]] further south.<ref name="USFS"/>
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| − | ===Flowers===
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| − | ''Diospyros texana'' is [[Plant sexuality#Individual plant sexuality|dioecious]] (separate male and female trees) and produces [[flower]]s starting in March or April. The flowers are white, urn shaped,<ref name="NPIN">{{cite web |url=http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=dite3 |title=''Diospyros texana'' Scheele |work=Native Plant Information Network |publisher=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center |accessdate=2009-11-29}}</ref> and {{convert|0.8|-|1.6|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide. They have five [[sepal]]s, five [[petal]]s, 16 [[stamen]]s, and four [[Gynoecium|styles]]. Flowers are solitary or form on [[Inflorescence|cymes]] of two to three.<ref name="eFloras"/>
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| − | ===Fruit===
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| − | The [[fruit]]s of ''D. texana'' are black, subglobose [[Berry (botany)|berries]] with a diameter of {{convert|1.5|-|2.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} that ripen in August.<ref name="eFloras"/> Berries contain three to eight<ref name="eNature">{{cite web |url=http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=TS0706 |title='''Texas Persimmon''' ''Diospyros texana'' |work=Field Guides |publisher=eNature |accessdate=2009-11-27}}</ref> light red, triangular [[seed]]s around {{convert|0.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name="eFloras"/>
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| − | ==Habitat==
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| − | Texas persimmon can be found at elevations from sea level to {{convert|1800|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="eFloras"/> It inhabits the [[Edwards Plateau]]<ref name="USFS"/> the [[Chihuahuan Desert]],<ref name="UTEP"/> the southern third of the [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands]],<ref>{{WWF ecoregion |id=na0701 |name=Western Gulf Coastal grasslands|accessdate=2009-11-24}}</ref> the [[Tamaulipan mezquital]],<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.abisw.org/tt/tt_subset.pdf |format=PDF |author=NatureServe |title=Tamaulipan Thornscrub Ecoregion |publisher=International Classification of Ecological Communities: Terrestrial Vegetation |year=2003}}</ref> and the [[Tamaulipan matorral]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://nativeplantproject.com/SABALS/SABAL1008.pdf |format=PDF |title=Uses of Native Plants Found at Parras de la Fuente |first=Chris |last=Hathcock |journal=The Sabal |publisher=Native Plant Project |volume=25 |number=7 |date=October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_pYOAQAAIAAJ |title=Sistemas Silvopastoriles |first=Danilo |last=Pezo |author2=Muhammad Ibrahim |publisher=Biblioteca Orton IICA/CATIE |year=1998 |isbn=978-9977-57-301-4}}</ref> Throughout its range, ''D. texana'' favors [[riparian zone]]s,<ref name="USFS"/> [[prairie]] margins, and rocky slopes.<ref name="eFloras"/> It prefers well-drained, [[alkali]]ne [[soil]]s].<ref>[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=DITE3 University of Texas: Diospyros texana]</ref>
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| − | ==Uses==
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| − | The [[Wood#Heartwood and sapwood|sapwood]] of Texas persimmon is clear yellow, while the [[Wood#Heartwood and sapwood|heartwood]], found only in very large trees, is black ([[ebony]]), like that of the related ''[[Diospyros ebenum|D. ebenum]]''.<ref name="NPIN"/> The heartwood is hard and dense and takes a high [[Wood finishing|polish]]. It is used to make [[Wood engraving|engraving blocks]], artwork, and tools.<ref name="USFS"/> The fleshy berries are edible and sweet when ripe<ref name="NPIN"/> and are used in [[pudding]]s and [[custard]]s; they are also relished by many species of birds and mammals. They were traditionally used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] to make a black [[dye]] for animal [[Hide (skin)|hides]] and are still used for this purpose in Mexico.<ref name="USFS"/> The small size, peeling bark, intricate branching, and [[drought]] tolerance of ''D. texana'' make it useful as an [[Ornamental plant|ornamental]].<ref name="AM"/>
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| − | ==Ecology==
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| − | ''Diospyros texana'' is a [[Host (biology)|host]] plant for the [[caterpillar]]s of the [[grey hairstreak]] (''Strymon melinus'') and [[Henry's elfin]] (''Callophrys henrici'')<ref name="NPIN"/>
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| − | {{commons category}}
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| − | {{Wikispecies}}
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| | {{Reflist}} | | {{Reflist}} |
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| − | ==External links==
| + | {{Ack-Wikipedia}} |
| − | *{{cite web |url=http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/diostexa.pdf |format=PDF |title=Diospyros texana |work=Digital Representations of Tree Species Range Maps from "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. (and other publications) |publisher=United States Geological Survey |accessdate=}}
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| − | {{Taxonbar|from=Q5279625}}
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| − | [[Category:Diospyros|texana]] | + | [[Category:Ebenaceae]] |
| − | [[Category:Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert]]
| + | [[Category:Plants for Keenan to eat]] |
| − | [[Category:Trees of Chihuahua (state)]]
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| − | [[Category:Trees of Coahuila]]
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| − | [[Category:Trees of Nuevo León]]
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| − | [[Category:Trees of Tamaulipas]]
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| − | [[Category:Trees of the South-Central United States]]
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| − | [[Category:Plants described in 1849]] | |
