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Diospyros is a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate climates.

The genus includes a few species that are commercially important; the persimmons (D. kaki, D. virginiana), which produce edible fruit, and ebony (chiefly D. ebenum) which produces a hard, black wood.

The Kaki Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is the most widely cultivated species, grown for its delicious fruit (see below). This species, native to China, is deciduous, with broad, stiff leaves. Cultivation for the fruit extended first to other parts of east Asia, and later introduced to California and southern Europe in the 1800s.

The American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is native to eastern North AmericaNorth America is the third largest continent in area and the fourth ranked in population. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocea. The Black Persimmon or Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna) is native to Mexico, and its fruit has green skin and white flesh when unripe and turns black when ripe. There is also the Mabolo or Velvet-apple (Diospyros discolor), which is native to the Philippines. It is bright red when ripe.

The Date-plum (Diospyros lotus), native to southwest AsiaThe continent of Asia is defined by subtracting Europe and Africa from the great land mass of Africa-Eurasia. The boundaries are vague, especially between Asia and Europe: Asia and Africa meet somewhere near the Suez Canal. The boundary between Asia and E and southeast Europe, was known to the ancient GreeksSee The Greeks for the financial term for the set of measures derived from the Black-Scholes option pricing formula, named for the use of the Greek alphabet to denote parameters. Greeks in Ancient History In Latin literature, Graeci (or Greeks in English) as "the fruit of the Gods", i.e., Dios pyros, whence the scientific name of the genus. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plumSeveral, including: Prunus domestica ''Prunus insititia ''Prunus salicina A plum is a stone-fruit tree in the genus Prunus''. Its fruit is sweet, juicy and edible, and it can be eaten fresh or used in jam-making or other recipes. Plum juice can be ferments and datesDate Date palms, Sinai, Egypt Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Arecales Family: Arecaceae Genus Phoenix Species dactylifera Binomial name Phoenix dactylifera A date is the fruit of the date palm P.

The woodThis article describes the wood that comprises trees and boards. For the Chinese element, see wood (classical element). For the town, see Wood, South Dakota or Wood, Wisconsin. For the type of golf club, see golf club (equipment). Veluwe, The Netherlands of persimmons is known as ebony. It is heavy and hard, and with the heartwood jet black in several tropical species, notably Diospyros ebenum. These species with black heartwood are valued far more for their wood than for their fruit.