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,
Diospyros medical compound betulinic acid. Extracts from "Diospyros" plants have also been proposed as novel anti-viral treatment. Though bees do not play a key role as pollinators, in plantations "Diospyros" may be of some use as honey plants. "D. mollis", locally known as "mặc nưa", is used in Vietnam to dye the famous black "lãnh Mỹ A" silk of Tân Châu district. The reverence of these trees in their native range is reflected by their use as floral emblems. In Indonesia, "D. celebica" (Makassar ebony, known locally as "eboni") is the provincial tree of Central Sulawesi, while ajan kelicung ("D. macrophylla")