Diospyros malabarica

Gaub tree
Foliage and flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Diospyros
Species: D. malabarica
Binomial name
Diospyros malabarica
(Desr.) Kostel.
Synonyms
  • D. biflora Blanco
  • D. citrifolia Wall. ex A.DC.
  • D. embryopteris Pers. [Illegitimate]
  • D. glutinifera (Roxb.) Wall.
  • D. glutinosa J.König ex Roxb.
  • D. malabarica var. siamensis (Hochr.) Phengklai
  • D. peregrina (Gaertn.) Gürke
  • D. peregrina f. javanica Kosterm.
  • D. siamensis Hochr.
  • Embryopteris gelatinifera G.Don
  • Embryopteris glutinifera Roxb.
  • Embryopteris glutinifolia Link
  • Embryopteris peregrina Gaertn.

The Gaub tree, Malabar ebony, Black-and-white ebony or Pale moon ebony (Diospyros malabarica) (Bengali: গাব/দেশী গাব) is a species of flowering tree in the family Ebenaceae that is native to the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia.

It is a long-lived, very slow-growing tree, which can reach up to 35 m in height with a black trunk up to 70 cm in diameter.[1]

Fruit

The fruits are round, and yellow when ripe. It may be somewhat often astringent, even when ripe. Its common name is derived from the coast of southwestern India, Malabar. It is the provincial tree of Ang Thong Province in Thailand.

Uses

Both the bark of the tree and the unripe fruit have medicinal uses in Ayurveda. This tree was mentioned as Tinduka by Sanskrit writers.[2]

Unripe leaves and fruits were traditionally used to dye cloth black.

References

  1. ↑ FAO - Malabar ebony
  2. ↑ Rajendra Shinde in Flowers of India
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