3 Blueberry Bush - Diospyros glabra Seeds - South African Indigenous Shrub or Edible Fruit Tree

Diospyros glabra Seeds

South African Indigenous Shrub

Diospyros is a genus of over 700 species of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and small bushes. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. Depending on their nature, individual species are commonly known as ebony or persimmon trees. Some are valued for their hard, heavy, dark timber, and some for their fruit. Some are useful as ornamentals and many are of local ecological importance. The generic name Diospyros comes from the ancient Greek words Dios and pyros. In context this means more or less divine fruit or divine food, though its literal meaning is more like Wheat of Zeus. Diospyros glabra commonly known as Bloubekbessie, Bloubessie, Bloubessiebos, Kersbessiebos, Kraaibessie, Kraaibessiebos, Vliebessiebos, Vliebos or Vliebosbessie in English and Blueberry Bush in English is an evergreen small tree or shrub. It is indigenous to South Africa’s Northern Cape and Western Cape Provinces where it is found mainly on fynbos mountain slopes and forest margins. The leaves are spirally arranged, small and elliptic. The reddish colour of the new branchlets can be seen in the picture provided. Older bark is dark grey and mottled. The flowers are white with petals that curl back. The purplish edible fruits are almost round with the five-lobed calyx persisting into autumn. The seeds are bean-like, oblong and dark brown to almost black.