Diospyros discolor Diospyros discolor Diospyros discolor (commonly known as velvet apple, velvet persimmon or mabolo tree) is a tree of the genus "Diospyros" of ebony trees and persimmons. Its edible fruit has a skin covered in a fine, velvety fur which is usually reddish-brown, and soft, creamy, pink flesh, with a taste and aroma comparable to fruit cream cheese. It is native to the Philippines, where "kamagong" usually refers to the entire tree, and "mabolo" or "tálang" is applied to the fruit. It is a dioecious tropical tree that grows well in a diversity of soil, from the sea level to the
Flora of Madagascar Population growth and transformation of the landscape was particularly rapid since the mid-20th century. The native flora of Madagascar is used for a variety of purposes by the Malagasy people. Richard Baron, at the end of the 19th century, described more than one hundred native plants used locally and commercially. These include many timber trees such as native ebony ("Diospyros") and rosewood ("Dalbergia") species, the raffia palm "Raphia farinifera" used for fibre, dyeing plants, as well as medicinal and edible plants. The traveller's tree has various uses in the east of Madagascar, chiefly as building material. Madagascar's national instrument "valiha"