Diospyros virginiana
American persimmon
Diospyros virginiana, commonly known as the American persimmon, is a versatile deciduous tree valued for its medicinal and nutritional properties. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, its fruit and bark are traditionally used to treat ailments ranging from digestive issues to inflammation, making it a significant botanical resource in herbal medicine.
- Scientific name: Diospyros virginiana
- Family: Ebenaceae
- Native range: Europe
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Ebenaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Diospyros | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Diospyros virginiana, is known by various regional names across different languages. In Portuguese, it is referred to as Caqui americano, while in Russian, it is called Хурма виргинская. In Catalan, it is known as caqui de Virgínia, and in Finnish, the common name is amerikanpersimoni. Additionally, in Hlebni, it is called Persimonowc.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Caqui americano | Wikidata |
| ru | Хурма виргинская | Wikidata |
| ca | caqui de Virgínia | Wikidata |
| fi | amerikanpersimoni | Wikidata |
| hsb | Persimonowc | Wikidata |
| nl | Amerikaanse persimmon | Wikidata |
| da | Amerikansk Kaki | Wikidata |
| ja | アメリカガキ | Wikidata |
| zh | 美洲柿 | Wikidata |
| fa | خرمالوی آمریکایی | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Europe | Belarus | WCVP |
| Caucasus | Transcaucasus | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Palestine | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Illinois | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Iowa | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Kansas | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| Northeastern U.S.A. | Connecticut | WCVP |
| Northeastern U.S.A. | Indiana | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the persimmon, utilizes its roots to establish a firm foundation within the soil, facilitating the absorption of essential water and nutrients necessary for its growth. While the fruit and leaves are often the most recognized features of Diospyros virginiana, the root system plays a vital role in the overall health and stability of the organism. In traditional medicinal contexts, various parts of the plant are studied, but the roots serve as the critical underground anchor that supports the entire medicinal structure.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Diospyros virginiana has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxynaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde, 7-methyljuglone, betulin, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 11
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxynaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 7-methyljuglone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| betulinic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diospyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| isodiospyrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lupeol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| shinanolone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Diospyros virginiana has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Tumorigenic.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tumorigenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Diospyros virginiana has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include tumors.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| tumors | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |