Diospyros kaki
Specifications
Family
Ebenaceae
Species
Diospyros kaki L. f.
japanese persimmon
Description
The color can vary from yellowish brown to reddish brown, it often has characteristic dark streaks and is dense, hard, with a fine and uniform grain.
Plant morphology
A medium-sized tree, it can reach 5-7 meters in height. The bark is dark brown, becoming wrinkled with age. The leaves are alternate, ovate-oblong, glossy dark green on the upper surface, hairy on the underside. The flowers have a white corolla. The fruit is a berry the size of an orange, golden yellow with sweet, liquid pulp.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central-Southern China; widespread in Europe as a fruit tree.
Habitat and ecology
In its native areas, it grows on cool hillsides, in very fertile and sheltered soils; it avoids compact or very humid soils.
Uses
Application areas
It is suitable for fine work such as weaving shuttles, tools, inlays, handicrafts, very robust tools (golf clubs, sports equipment).
Threats and Conservation
Threats
This species is widely cultivated throughout the world, for this reason it has been classified by the IUCN as LC.
Conservation measures
In some cases, wild populations of this species may be threatened by habitat loss.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
LC - Least Concern - Low Risk
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2018
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2018
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
820
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
3
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
5
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
146
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
15100
MPa
Miscellaneous
Few persimmon trees survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb.