Diospyros virginiana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401786a4add365204283 |
| Scientific name | Diospyros virginiana |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1057 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among the Cherokee of the southeastern United States, decoctions of the inner bark of Diospyros virginiana were traditionally taken to treat diarrhea and dysentery, often as a bitter astringent tea (Moerman, 1998). The Catawba people of North Carolina prepared leaf infusions for fever and sore throat, using a handful of fresh leaves steeped in hot water (Sturtevant, 1978). Appalachian folk healers also used a bark maceration, soaking the powdered bark in cold water for several hours before drinking, as a tonic for gastrointestinal upset (Gunther & Price, 2000). In addition, the ripe fruit was sometimes boiled to make a mild tea used as a laxative and to ease stomachaches (Altschul, 1973). External applications were also recorded; the Cherokee sometimes made a poultice of mashed bark for skin irritations (Moerman, 1998).
A simple bark decoction can be prepared by adding 1–2 teaspoons (about 5 g) of dried inner bark to 8 fl oz (≈240 ml) of water, bringing it to a gentle boil, and simmering for 15–20 minutes. The liquid is then strained and allowed to cool; the tea is taken in doses of about half a cup (≈120 ml) two to three times a day while symptoms persist. This preparation harnesses the bark’s strong astringent tannins. Safety notes advise against using the decoction during pregnancy and advise limiting daily intake to no more than three doses, as excessive tannin can cause nausea or constipation in sensitive individuals (Broussard, 2015).
The bark is rich in hydrolyzable tannins such as gallotannins, which are well documented in the fruit and wood of D. virginiana (Harborne, 1994). These compounds, together with flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, give the plant its astringent and antimicrobial properties. The ripe fruit contains high levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), β‑carotene, lutein, and proanthocyanidins, providing antioxidant activity that likely contributes to its traditional digestive‑soothing use (Pérez‑Serrano et al., 1997).
Recent phytochemical studies have confirmed the antioxidant capacity of persimmon extracts (Liu et al., 2021), prompting interest in functional foods and nutraceuticals derived from D. virginiana. Dried persimmon fruit is commercially sold in health stores, and small batches of bark tinctures continue to appear in niche herbal markets, reflecting an enduring legacy of its historic folk uses.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Food products from the fruit (fresh, frozen, dried) and specialty baked goods; wood for small specialty items and tool handles.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The fruit is documented as edible and is processed into jams, jellies, syrups, and butters, or used in puddings and baked goods such as cakes and breads. It is also used in non-alcoholic beverages and, where permitted, for alcoholic fermentation.
Wood and fiber:
Wood is heavy, hard, and fine-grained with high extractive content. It is used for golf club heads, tool handles, shuttles, and other small specialty items. The high extractives limit its suitability for bulk kraft pulping.
Colorants and tanning:
Bark and heartwood contain tannins and have been used to produce brown to black dyes for protein fibers and for leather tanning.
Properties relevant to use:
The fruit pulp is rich in sugars and pectins, supporting jams and syrups and sugar-based fermentation. The seed oil is non-drying and may be suitable for soapmaking or lubricants. Wood density and extractives confer hardness, dimensional stability, and natural coloration.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is widespread but localized; sustainable harvest of timber and bark is emphasized. Orcharding for fruit occurs regionally in the United States.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Persimon virginiana | Raf. | Sylva Tellur. : 164 (1838) |
| Diospyros angustifolia | Audib. ex Spach | Hist. Nat. Vég. 9: 405 (1840) |
| Diospyros calycina | Audib. ex Spach | Hist. Nat. Vég. 9: 405 (1840) |
| Diospyros caroliniana | Muhl. ex Raf. | Fl. Ludov. : 139 (1817) |
| Diospyros ciliata | Raf. | New Fl. 3: 25 (1838) |
| Diospyros concolor | Moench | Methodus : 470 (1794) |
| Diospyros digyna | Horl. ex Loudon | Encycl. Trees Shrubs : 627 (1842) |
| Diospyros distyla | hort. ex K.Koch | Dendrologie 2(2): 205 (1873) |
| Diospyros fertilis | G.Lodd. ex Loudon | Arbor. Frutic. Brit. 2: 1197 (1838) |
| Diospyros guaiacana | Robin | Voy. Int. Louisiane 3: 417 (1807) |
| Diospyros intermedia | hort. ex Loudon | Encycl. Trees Shrubs : 627 (1842) |
| Diospyros lucida | hort. ex Loud. | Gard. Mag. (London) , n.s., 7: 394 (1841) |
| Diospyros mosieri | Small | J. New York Bot. Gard. 22: 33 (1921) |
| Diospyros persimon | Wikstr. | Jahresber. Königl. Schwed. Akad. Wiss. Fortschr. Bot. 1830: 92 (1834) |
| Diospyros virginiana f. atra | Sarg. | J. Arnold Arbor. 2: 170 (1921) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. mosieri | Sarg. | J. Arnold Arbor. 2: 170 (1921) |
| Diospyros virginiana subsp. mosieri | (Small) A.E.Murray | Kalmia 12: 20 (1982) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. platycarpa | Sarg. | J. Arnold Arbor. 2: 168 (1921) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. pubescens | Nutt. | N. Amer. Sylv. 2: 46 (1849) |
| Diospyros virginiana f. pumila | (E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.) Steyerm. | Rhodora 62: 131. 1960 |
| Diospyros pubescens | Pursh | Fl. Amer. Sept. 1: 265 (1813) |
| Diospyros stricta | Loudon | Encycl. Trees Shrubs : 627 (1842) |
| Diospyros undulata | Hiern | Trans. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 12: 215 (1873) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. concolor | (Moench) Raf. | Med. Fl. 1: 155 (1828) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. perquinii | Rob. | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 6: 556 (1874) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. lucida | Rob. | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 6: 556 (1874) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. microcarpa | Raf. | Med. Fl. 1: 155 (1828) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. insignis | Rob. | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 6: 556 (1874) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. angustifolia | Rob. | Garden (London, 1871-1927) 6: 556 (1874) |
| Diospyros virginiana var. macrocarpa | Raf. | Med. Fl. 1: 155 (1828) |
| Diospyros coronaria | Mottet | Dict. Prat. Hort. 2: 218 (1893-1894) |
| Diospyros virginiana subsp. pumila | E.J.Palmer & Steyerm. | Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 22: 616 (1935) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | american persimmon |
| English | sugar plum |
| English | common persimmon |
| English | eastern persimmon |
| English | possumwood |
| English | possum apple |
| English | simmon |
| Arabic | ديوسبيروس فرجينيا |
| Azerbaijani | virginiya xurması |
| Catalan | caqui de virgínia |
| Cherokee | ᏌᎵ |
| Czech | tomel viržinský |
| Danish | amerikansk kaki |
| Persian | خرمالوی آمریکایی |
| Finnish | amerikanpersimoni |
| French | plaqueminier de virginie |
| Hebrew | אפרסמון אמריקאי |
| Upper Sorbian | persimonowc |
| Japanese | アメリカガキ |
| Latvian | virdžīnijas hurma |
| Dutch | amerikaanse persimoen |
| Dutch | amerikaanse persimmon |
| Dutch | persimoen |
| Portuguese | caqui americano |
| Russian | Хурма вирджинская |
| Russian | Хурма виргинская |
| Slovenian | persimon |
| Slovenian | virginijski ebenovec |
| Turkish | virjinya hurması |
| Chinese | 美洲柿 |
| Chinese | 北美柿 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Start at 4°C for 3 months, then warm to 20°C for another 3 months. |
| Pulpy Coat Inhibits Germination: Seeds with a pulpy or fleshy outer coat need to have this material removed by soaking and rinsing in clean water daily for about a week. The inhibitory substances in the pulp are thus washed away, and germination rates improve. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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Western Asia
- Palestine
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Caucasus
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Northern America click to expand
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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North-central U.S.A.
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bermuda
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000649953 |
| UNII | 68EO395K2J |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 3858 |
| Flora of Alabama | 1710 |
| Cornell Woody Plants | 85 |
| USDA Plants | DIVI5 |
| UConn | 159 |
| Tropicos | 11500206 |
| INPN | 611108 |
| Flora of Italy | 11771 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:323180-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2770719 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 279917 |
| PaleoBotany | 91355 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 525019 |
| Observations.org | 150039 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 13493 |
| Nature Serve | 2.159254 |
| IUCN Red List | 173405 |
| IPNI | 323180-1 |
| iNaturalist | 83435 |
| IFPNI | C42F70E2-D330-4DA2-857D-84FCC91A77FB |
| GBIF | 3032986 |
| Freebase | /m/042664 |
| FEIS | plants/tree/diovir |
| EPPO | DOSVI |
| EOL | 595775 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9863 |
| USDA GRIN | 14329 |
| Wikipedia | Diospyros_virginiana |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| New Alien Plant Taxa for Italy and Europe: An Update | Musarella CM, Laface VL, Angiolini C, Bacchetta G, Bajona E, Banfi E, Barone G, Biscotti N, Bonsanto D, Calvia G, Cambria S, Capuano A, Caruso G, Crisafulli A, Del Guacchio E, Di Gristina E, Domina G, Fanfarillo E, Fascetti S, Fiaschi T, Galasso G, Mascia F, Mazzacuva G, Mei G, Minissale P, Motti R, Perrino EV, Picone RM, Pinzani L, Podda L, Potenza G, Rosati L, Stinca A, Tavilla G, Villano C, Wagensommer RP, Spampinato G | Plants (Basel) | 24-Feb-2024 |
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| Supplement Type Impact on the Performance and Nutrient Dynamics of Nursing Does and Kids Raised in Woodlands | Shrestha B, Karki U, Chaudhary S, Tiwari A, Karki LB | Animals (Basel) | 23-Dec-2023 |
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| Pest categorisation of Mimela testaceipes | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 30-Nov-2023 |
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| Pest categorisation of Diaprepes abbreviatus | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 15-Nov-2023 |
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| Foraging Wild Edibles: Dietary Diversity in Expanded Food Systems | Bellows AC, Raj S, Pitstick E, Potteiger MR, Diemont SA | Nutrients | 31-Oct-2023 |
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| Assessing springtime vertebrate prey of sympatric mesopredators in the southeastern United States using metabarcoding analysis | Youngmann JL, Lance SL, Kilgo JC, Ruth C, Cantrell J, D’Angelo GJ | PLoS One | 25-Oct-2023 |
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| The Registration Situation and Use of Mycopesticides in the World | Jiang Y, Wang J | J Fungi (Basel) | 16-Sep-2023 |
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| Holarctic Species in the Pluteus podospileus Clade: Description of Six New Species and Reassessment of Old Names | Ševčíková H, Malysheva EF, Antonín V, Borovička J, Dovana F, Ferisin G, Eyssartier G, Grootmyers D, Heilmann-Clausen J, Kalichman J, Kaygusuz O, Lebeuf R, Muñoz González G, Minnis AM, Russell SD, Saar I, Nielsen IB, Frøslev TG, Justo A | J Fungi (Basel) | 31-Aug-2023 |
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| Signatures of prescribed fire in the microbial communities of Cornus florida are largely undetectable five months post-fire | Kapoor B, Onufrak A, Klingeman III W, DeBruyn JM, Cregger MA, Willcox E, Trigiano R, Hadziabdic D | PeerJ | 24-Aug-2023 |
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| Pest categorisation of Euzophera semifuneralis | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Kertesz V, Maiorano A, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 25-Jul-2023 |
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| Population Genetic Analysis in Persimmons (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) Based on Genome-Wide Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms | Park S, Park YO, Park Y | Plants (Basel) | 24-May-2023 |
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| Effect of silvopasture system on fearfulness and leg health in fast-growing broiler chickens | Paneru B, Pent GJ, Nastasi S, Downing AK, Munsell JF, Fike JH, Jacobs L | PLoS One | 23-Mar-2023 |
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| Persimmon Leaves: Nutritional, Pharmaceutical, and Industrial Potential—A Review | Hossain A, Shahidi F | Plants (Basel) | 18-Feb-2023 |
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| Twenty-Seven Year Response of South Carolina Coastal Plain Forests Affected by Hurricane Hugo | Heaton R, Song B, Williams T, Conner W, Baucom Z, Williams B | Plants (Basel) | 04-Feb-2023 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Prunus persica and P. dulcis plants from Türkiye | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Zappalà L, Lucchi A, Gómez P, Urek G, Bernardo U, Bubici G, Carluccio AV, Chiumenti M, Di Serio F, Fanelli E, Kaczmarek A, Marzachì C, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Yuen J | EFSA J | 19-Jan-2023 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |