Diospyros virgata (Gürke) Brenan

Ebenaceae, F. White. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Usually a rhizomatous suffrutex up to 0·45 m. high and forming mats a few metres in diameter; when fire–protected a shrub up to 2·5 m. high.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves drying pale yellow–brown; lamina 4 x 1·5–7 x 3 cm., lanceolate, apex acute or subacute, the tip usually mucronate; lower surface densely fulvous–sericeous; secondary nerves in (3) 4–5 pairs, inconspicuous; tertiary nerves and veins invisible.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 0·4 cm. long, strigulose–tomentellous outside, lobed almost to the base; lobes 3(4) narrowly deltate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 0·7–0·8 cm. long, cream, urceolate, strigulose–tomentellous almost to the base outside; lobes 3(4), ovate–deltate, 0·25 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 12–14, visible at the throat but included, 0·3–0·4 cm. long; filaments very short, inserted on the receptacle; anthers lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous.

sex Male

Stamens 12–14, visible at the throat but included, 0·3–0·4 cm. long; filaments very short, inserted on the receptacle; anthers lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous. Pistillode represented by a tuft of hairs. Calyx 0·4 cm. long, strigulose–tomentellous outside, lobed almost to the base; lobes 3(4) narrowly deltate. Corolla 0·7–0·8 cm. long, cream, urceolate, strigulose–tomentellous almost to the base outside; lobes 3(4), ovate–deltate, 0·25 cm. long. Male flowers pale yellow, sessile in 1–7–flowered clusters in the axils of leaves or of fallen leaves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistillodes

Pistillode represented by a tuft of hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary, shortly pedicellate, with 6 or more deltate–bracts, otherwise similar to the male but corolla–tube slightly wider and more contracted at the throat. Male flowers pale yellow, sessile in 1–7–flowered clusters in the axils of leaves or of fallen leaves.

sex Female

Female flowers solitary, shortly pedicellate, with 6 or more deltate–bracts, otherwise similar to the male but corolla–tube slightly wider and more contracted at the throat. Staminodes 3(4), filiform, inserted on the receptacle. Ovary 0·5 x 0·4 cm., locules 6. Styles 3, 0·15 cm. long, erect, glabrous distally, stigmatic on inner surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes 3(4), filiform, inserted on the receptacle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 0·5 x 0·4 cm., locules 6.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 3, 0·15 cm. long, erect, glabrous distally, stigmatic on inner surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 6 or fewer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruiting calyx not accrescent, 0·4 cm. long. Fruit 2·5 x 2·5 cm., subglobose, fulvous–tomentose, outer pericarp somewhat woody.