Diospyros virginiana fruited "yates", which is a late ripening variety) remain astringent even when the fruit has become completely soft (at least in the British climate). Frost, however, destroys the cells within the fruit, causing it to rot instead of ripen. Only completely ripe and soft fruit can stand some frost; it will then dry and become even sweeter (hence the misconception). The same goes for the Oriental persimmon ("Diospyros kaki"), where early frost can severely damage a fruit crop. Diospyros virginiana Diospyros virginiana is a persimmon species commonly called the American persimmon, common persimmon, eastern persimmon, "simmon", "possumwood", "possum apples", or
Diospyros is that of West Nusa Tenggara. The emblem of the Japanese island of Ishigaki is the "Yaeyama kokutan" ("D. ferrea"). The Gold apple ("D. decandra"), called "Trái thị" in Vietnamese, is a tree in the Tấm Cám fable. It is also the provincial tree of Chanthaburi as well as Nakhon Pathom Provinces in Thailand, while the black-and-white ebony ("D. malabarica") is that of Ang Thong Province. The name of the Thai district Amphoe Tha Tako, literally means "District of the "Diospyros" pier", the latter being a popular local gathering spot. Diospyros Diospyros is a genus of over 700 species of