Diospyros austro-africana Seeds
Fire-Sticks, Star-Apple, Kritikom, Jakkalsbos, Vuurmaakbossie
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 austro-africana commonly known as Fire-Sticks or Star-Apple in English and Kritikom, Jakkalsbos and Vuurmaakbossie in Afrikaans is a beautiful South African indigenous shrub or tree that bears little cream, pink and even red lantern-like flowers. Not only attractive to man but also to birds and butterflies, it grows in different regions and conditions across the country. Diospyros austro-africana is a multistemmed shrub or small tree, somewhat rounded, 2 to 10 m high. The bark is medium to dark brown with fine, flakey strips. The brown branches are finely haired, similar to the fine hairs on the small, narrow-obovate leaves which give this shrub a dusty grey appearance. The leaves are whorled and crowned at the tips. They are 35 x 2 to 5 mm, subsessile, oblanceolate, slightly darker and velvety on top and felted beneath. The flowers are pendulous, creamy white, cerise pink or red. Each flower is surrounded by a 5 lobed calyx which holds the developing fruit and is unique to Diospyros. Plants are dioecious, either male or female. Flowering time: August to November. Round, fleshy edible fruits are born from January to June. These are also velvety and ripen red to black. The fruit is usually 15 mm in diameter. This shrub has good potential as a bonsai.
