American persimmon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• American persimmon
• persimmon
• Simmon
• Sugar-plum
• Sugarplum
• possum apples
• possumwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diospyros virginiana var. concolor
• Diospyros virginiana subsp. mosieri
• Diospyros virginiana var. mosieri
• Diospyros coronaria
• Diospyros virginiana var. angustifolia
• Diospyros virginiana var. insignis
• Diospyros concolor
• Diospyros virginiana var. macrocarpa
• Diospyros virginiana var. microcarpa
• Diospyros guaiacana
• Persimon virginiana
• Diospyros virginiana f. atra
• Diospyros virginiana var. platycarpa
• Diospyros virginiana var. pubescens
• Diospyros caroliniana
• Diospyros virginiana f. pumila
• Diospyros distyla
• Diospyros fertilis
• Diospyros virginiana var. lucida
• Diospyros intermedia
• Diospyros virginiana var. perquinii
• Diospyros mosieri
• Diospyros persimon

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In North-Central U.S.A., it can be found growing in states such as Illinois and Iowa. Its range extends across Eastern Europe, where it is documented in Belarus. Moving toward the Caucasus, the species is also present within the Transcaucasus region. Finally, its presence reaches into Western Asia, specifically within Palestine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Diospyros virginiana is fundamentally defined by its preference for diverse woodland environments, where it thrives within the stratified layers of both deciduous and mixed forests. It exhibits a strong affinity for moisture-rich landscapes, frequently establishing itself in the fertile, alluvial soils found along the margins of rivers and in riparian zones. This ability to colonize riverine habitats allows the species to exploit high-nutrient sediment deposits, while its presence in forest understories demonstrates an adaptation to varying light intensities and competitive biotic interactions. By occupying these specific niches, the plant plays a functional role in the ecosystem, contributing to the stability of forest edges and riverbank structures.

Habitat :

forest, rivers

Life history

The life history of Diospyros virginiana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem through successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches above the ground level, a structural strategy that protects its buds during unfavorable conditions. Its growth habit further aligns with the phanerophyte life form, ensuring that its woody structure remains prominent and capable of sustained development over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros virginiana is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with recorded measurements ranging from a maximum of 3 m to a mean height of approximately 18.56 m. Furthermore, the species is self-supporting in its structural habit, lacking the climbing tendencies of vines or lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

18.56 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros virginiana is characterized by a robust metabolic framework typical of woody perennial angiosperms, primarily driven by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this pathway, carbon fixation occurs through the enzyme RuBisCO, which facilitates the initial carboxylation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into three-carbon molecules within the mesophyll cells. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and its physiological response to varying environmental conditions, such as light intensity and humidity. The plant's metabolic processes are closely integrated with its seasonal phenology, where transpiration rates and gas exchange are regulated to maintain turgor pressure and optimize nutrient transport through the xylem and phloem. Furthermore, its physiological resilience is supported by complex enzymatic activities that manage oxidative stress and facilitate the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are essential for its survival in diverse temperate habitats.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros virginiana is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically commences in April and extends through June, though the timing can be variable across different environments. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a specific mass distribution; the individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of approximately 0.2616 g to a maximum of 0.46155 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.359258266666667 g. Furthermore, the dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that the plant relies on animals to facilitate the movement and distribution of its progeny throughout its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass max:

0.46155 g

Seed mass mean:

0.359258266666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.2616 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Diospyros virginiana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Diospyros virginiana has 53 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (E)-2-HEXENAL, 4-Hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxynaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde, 7-Methyljuglone, ALUMINUM, Ash.

(E)-2-HEXENAL

1. Dr. Duke

4-Hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxynaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

7-Methyljuglone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BARIUM

1. Dr. Duke

BENZOTHIAZOLE

1. Dr. Duke

BETULINALDEHYDE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

BORNYL ACETATE

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Diospyros virginiana has 391 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Tumorigenic, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Tumorigenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the National Cancer Institute

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

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

Tumors

1. Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Preparations

Diospyros virginiana has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Tannin fractions, acetone extract of the roots of Diospyros virginiana, astringent, total aqueous extracts.

Tannin fractions

1. Journal of the National Cancer Institute

Acetone extract of the roots of diospyros virginiana

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Astringent

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Total aqueous extracts

1. Journal of the National Cancer Institute