Diospyros kaki trade name for non-astringent "D. kaki" fruit. "Diospyros kaki" is commonly called Japanese persimmon, Chinese persimmon, kaki (from Japanese name 柿, "kaki"), "kaki" persimmon, and Oriental persimmon. The scientific name "Diospyros kaki" L. f. may be used erroneously for this plant. However, "Diospyros kaki" L. f., published in 1781, is a later homonym of "Diospyros kaki" Thunb., published in 1780. So the name "Diospyros kaki" L. f. is taxonomically illegitimate and not accepted. Similar in shape to an apple tree, the "kaki" tree reaches a size of up to . Its deciduous leaves are medium to dark green, broadly lanceolate,
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"