Date-plum
Encyclopedia
Diospyros lotus, better known as the Date-plum or Caucasian Persimmon is a widely cultivated species of the genus
Diospyros
, native to subtropical southwest Asia
and southeast Europe
. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plum
s and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation.
and southeast Europe
. It was known to the ancient Greeks
as "the fruit of the gods" i.e. Dios pyros (lit. "the wheat of Zeus"), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its English
name probably derives from Persian
Khormaloo خرمالو literally "Date-Plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both plum
s and dates
. This species is one candidate for the "lotus tree
" mentioned in The Odyssey: it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.
The tree grows in the lower and middle mountain zones, the Caucasus, usually up to 600 m above sea level. In Central Asia, it rises higher - up to 2000 m. The net stands Rarely forms, usually grows with the frame, ash, maple and other deciduous species. It is not demanding on the soil, can grow on rocky slopes, but requires high light, so well cleaned of twigs, which makes its stately columned trunks look.
It is cultivated at the limits of its range, as well as in the U.S. and North Africa.
The leaves are shiny, leathery, oval shape with pointed ends, 5-15 cm long and 3-6 cm in width.
The flowers are small, greenish, appearing in the June-July.
Fruits are berries with juicy flesh, yellow when ripe, 1-2 cm in diameter. Seeds with thin skin and a very hard endosperm.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Diospyros
Diospyros
Diospyros is a genus of about 450–500 species of deciduous and evergreen trees. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. They are commonly known as ebony or persimmon trees...
, native to subtropical southwest Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and southeast Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
s and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation.
Distribution and ecology
The species area extends from East Asia to the west of the Mediterranean, down to Spain. The Date-plum is native to southwest AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and southeast Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It was known to the ancient Greeks
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
as "the fruit of the gods" i.e. Dios pyros (lit. "the wheat of Zeus"), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
name probably derives from Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
Khormaloo خرمالو literally "Date-Plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
s and dates
Date Palm
The date palm is a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit. Although its place of origin is unknown because of long cultivation, it probably originated from lands around the Persian Gulf. It is a medium-sized plant, 15–25 m tall, growing singly or forming a clump with...
. This species is one candidate for the "lotus tree
Lotus tree
The lotus tree is a plant that occurs in two stories from Greek mythology:* In Homer's Odyssey, the lotus bore a fruit that caused a pleasant drowsiness and was the only food of an island people called the Lotophagi or Lotus-eaters...
" mentioned in The Odyssey: it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.
The tree grows in the lower and middle mountain zones, the Caucasus, usually up to 600 m above sea level. In Central Asia, it rises higher - up to 2000 m. The net stands Rarely forms, usually grows with the frame, ash, maple and other deciduous species. It is not demanding on the soil, can grow on rocky slopes, but requires high light, so well cleaned of twigs, which makes its stately columned trunks look.
It is cultivated at the limits of its range, as well as in the U.S. and North Africa.
Biological description
This is a tree height of 15-30 m with sloughing of aging bark.The leaves are shiny, leathery, oval shape with pointed ends, 5-15 cm long and 3-6 cm in width.
The flowers are small, greenish, appearing in the June-July.
Fruits are berries with juicy flesh, yellow when ripe, 1-2 cm in diameter. Seeds with thin skin and a very hard endosperm.