Ebony

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ebony
• Benin ebony

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diospyros incarnata
• Diospyros evila
• Diospyros ampullacea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Diospyros crassiflora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Ericales. Finally, it is classified under the family Ebenaceae and the genus Diospyros.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Diospyros crassiflora, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Nigeria. The species also extends significantly into West-Central Tropical Africa. Within this central region, it can be found in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Congo. Furthermore, its geographical range includes the nation of Gabon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Diospyros crassiflora is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive as a substantial woody plant. This phanerophyte life form is further supported by its robust growth habit, which enables it to maintain structural integrity and sustain its biological functions over an extended lifespan.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros crassiflora is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a self-supporting tree. This terrestrial species reaches a mean plant height of 17.5 m, with individual specimens capable of attaining a maximum height of approximately 18.28822238 m. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros crassiflora is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process common to most woody tropical species where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle without the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This reliance on the C3 pathway indicates that the plant's carbon assimilation is highly dependent on environmental factors such as light intensity, moisture availability, and ambient CO2 concentrations. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as Rhizobium) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it must rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil to meet its nitrogen requirements for protein and enzyme synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros crassiflora is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and a reproductive strategy that relies on external agents. The flowering process typically begins in March and reaches its conclusion in April, although the timing can be variable within the broader seasonal spectrum. In terms of its breeding system, the plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, as the trait of self-fertilization is absent, indicating that successful reproduction depends on cross-pollination between different individuals.

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros crassiflora has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Plumbagin, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Plumbagin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Diospyros crassiflora has 23 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Diospyros crassiflora has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology