Diospyros montana

Diospyros montana is a medium-sized and deciduous tree growing up to 12-15 m high.

The young trunk of Diospyros montana is often spinescent. The bark is grey and it exfoliates in irregular and small flakes on old specimen.

The leaves of Diospyros montana grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, bright green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 5-8 mm long petiole.
The leaf of Diospyros montana is 5-10 m long and 3-4 cm wide. The shape of the blade is ovate to oblong, the apex is acute, the base is rounded or truncate and the margins are entire.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.

The flowers of Diospyros montana are unisexual.
The male flowers are grouped in short and axillary cymes (usually 3-flowered).
The calyx is cup-shaped and 4-lobed. The calyx-lobes are ovate, ciliate and 2-3 mm long.
The corolla is campanulate with 4 greenish-coloured, ovate and 4-5 mm long lobes.
The androecium is composed of 16 stamens (8 pairs) with short filament and lanceolate anthers.
The female flowers are axillary and solitary.
The calyx and the corolla are similar to the male flowers.
The style is 1-2 mm long, the stigma is capitate and the ovary is globose and 6-7 mm across. The flowers are fragrant.
 

The fruit of Diospyros montana is a subglobose berry up to 2 cm across. The fruit is fleshy with persistent and dry calyx at the base. The berry is greenish-coloured turning yellowish-orange when ripe. It contains 4-8 seeds.

There are usualy 4 to 8 seeds in each berry of Diospyros montana.
The seeds are ovate, brown-coloured with an apical beak.

The bark ground mixed with salt is applied over wounds and also on the broken part of a limb. (Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants)

The twigs and the leaves of Diospyros montana are lopped for fodder. (Krishen, 2006, Trees of Delhi)

The wood of Diospyros montana is hard and heavy and it takes a good polish. It is used for building construction, boat masts, well construction.

The fruits are rich in pectin and tannin. They are used as sizing and tanning material.

Source : Dastur, 2006, Useful Plants of India and Pakistan

Diospyros montana is used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicines.

The fruits of Diospyros montana are poisonous, bitter, astringent, febrifuge, abortifacient.
The fruits are applied externally to boils and spider stings.

The bark paste is given with boiled rice for swelling of the body.

The extract of fresh stem bark is taken in stomachache.

Source : Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants