Tomal or Mountain persimmon, Diospyros cordifolia

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Tomal or Mountain persimmon (Diospyros cordifolia, family: Ebenaceae) is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree with spreading branches and blackish bark, sometimes thorny. This beautiful tree is native to Malaysia, Myanmar, Australia and is introduced to Bangladesh and other subcontinent countries.

Not yellow, but black is the ripe fruit!

Leaves are simple green, glabrous, petioled, alternate, lanceolate-cordate 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. 

Flowers are small, whitish, with 4 petals. January-February is the flowering time. Male and female flowers usually grow singly from leaf axil while the male ones bloom in cluster on cyme inflorescence. 


Poisonous fruit is berry, round, fleshy 2.5 cm across. Half-matured fruits are yellow and they turn purplish black when fully ripe. Propagation of the plant is caused by seeds.


As a medicinal plant diospyros cordifolia is used in the treatment of fever, pneumonia and diarrhoea.


Stout thorns are often found over the trunk or larger branches. The other name of the tree is Bon gab. 

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