Common Persimmon

Description

Overview of a persimmon tree in open area.

Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana/Ebenaceae). The genus Diospyros contains about 400 species (including ebony) mostly native to the tropics (Madagascar, Africa and Malaysia), with two native to the United States. The name diospyros is derived from the Greek, for the god Zeus or Jupiter and grain, alluding to the edible fruit or “fruit of the gods.” Common Persimmon is native North America, from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey west to Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, south to Oklahoma and Texas, east to Florida including the Florida Keys.

Persimmon trees attain heights of 80 ft, with diameters of 2 ft. The tree grows well in disturbed areas and in mixed deciduous forests alongside Hickories, Oaks, Sycamore, Maples, Eastern Redcedar, Tulip Poplar and Elms. Persimmon sapwood is white to grayish brown, with a black to dark brown heartwood (like ebony) with streaks. The wood strong and stiff, heavy and hard and is hard to work with tools. The heartwood of Persimmon is very resistant to decay. It is used for billiard cues, bobbins, golf club heads, handles, parquet floors, shoe lasts, shuttles, spools, turnery and veneer.

Tech Sheet

https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/common-persimmon

Characteristics

Close view of Persimmon fruit and leaves on a branch.

Characteristics found in the Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana):

  • Semi-ring porous
  • Banded parenchyma (1)
  • Simple perforations
  • I/V pits minute (2-3)
  • Rays 1-4 seriate & homocellular to heterocellular
  • Crystals in rays and axial parenchyma

Slides (Click on each image to view a larger image)

WOOD SLIDES

Microscope slide of transverse section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to the vessels, growth ring boundary, and rays.
Microscope slide of transverse section of Persimmon would, at higher magnification arrows point to the vessels, rays, banded parenchyma, and fibers.
Microscope slide. Of transfer section of Persimmon at high magnification. Arrows point to vasicentric paratracheal parenchyma vessels and inter-vessel pitting.
Microscope slide of radial section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to the vessels and rays.
Microscope slide of radial section of Persimmon. Wood arrows point to heterocellular type rays
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to storied rays.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood arrows point to rays, vessels, and vasicentric parenchyma.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to the vessels and rays.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to axial parenchyma, ray vessels, and inter-vessel pitting.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood. Arrows point to vessels, rays and crystals.
Microscope slide of tangential section. Of Persimmon wood at high magnification. Arrows point to the vessels, rays, and crystals.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon wood at high magnification. Arrows point to the vessels, rays, and crystals.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

Microscope slide of transfer section of Persimmon. Charcoal arrows point to the vessels and growth ring boundaries.
Microscope slide of transverse section of Persimmon charcoal at higher magnification. Arrows point to latewood vessels and early wood vessels.
Microscope slide of transverse section of Persimmon Jackal At higher magnification, errors point to the vessels, rays and axial parenchyma.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon. Charcoal arrows point to the rays and vessels.
Microscope slide of radial section of Persimmon. Charcoal arrows point to rays and vessels.
Microscope slide of radial section of Persimmon. Charcoal arrows point to the rays and vessels.
Microscope slide of tangential surface of Persimmon charcoal. Arrows point to the rays, parenchyma and inter-vessel pitting.
Microscope slide of tangential section of Persimmon charcoal at high magnification. Arrows point to the inter-vessel pitting.