Diospyros thus avoided by most herbivores; when ripe they are eagerly eaten by many animals however, such as the rare Aders' duiker ("Cephalophus adersi"). The foliage is used as food by the larvae of numerous Lepidoptera species: Arctiidae: Geometridae: Limacodidae: Lycaenidae: Nymphalidae: Saturniidae: Tortricidae: An economically significant plant pathogen infecting many "Diospyros" species – "D. hispida", kaki persimmon ("D. kaki"), date-plum ("D. lotus"), Texas persimmon ("D. texana"), Coromandel ebony ("D. melanoxylon") and probably others – is the sac fungus "Pseudocercospora kaki", which causes a leaf spot disease. The genus includes several plants of commercial importance, either for their edible fruit (persimmons)
Diospyros decandra are known as "Gold Apple" or "trái thị". They're about 3–6 cm in diameter and have a strong fragrant smell. The fruits are edible and are known to taste good if prepared correctly. They are believed to have medicinal value. Diospyros decandra Diospyros decandra, is a tropical tree in the ebony family. Its flowers are white. It is a popular tree in Vietnam where it is grown in urban areas and close to temples. It is called "cây thị" in Vietnamese and it has appeared in Vietnamese folklore, such as "The Story of Tam and Cam". It is also the