Diospyros Diospyros Diospyros is a genus of over 700 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. Individual species valued for their hard, heavy, dark timber, are commonly known as ebony trees, while others are valued for their fruit and known as persimmon trees. Some are useful as ornamentals and many are of local ecological importance. The generic name "Diospyros" comes from a Latin name for the Caucasian persimmon ("D. lotus"), derived from the Greek "diós" () and "pyrós" (). The Greek name literally means
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