Tree Description:
A small tree to 40 feet, often low-forking or multi-trunked, with an open, oval crown. Notable for its muscular or fluted trunk and branches.
Range/Site Description:
Rocky and dry sites in Central and South Texas, west to Brewster county. Requires well drained soils and has gained favor as a landscape tree from Austin to Houston.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate, with almost no petiole, 1" to 2" long, obovate, thick and leathery, pubescent underneath; leaf edge without teeth, sometimes rolled under during droughts.
Flower:
Male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers inconspicuous; female flowers small, white, five-petaled, appearing in spring and attracting many insects.
Fruit:
A sweet, round fruit, 1" across and slightly depressed at the tip, black when ripe. Favored by wildlife and edible by humans.
Bark:
Smooth, gray, and tight, developing olive or light brown patches that peel away to show the lighter bark beneath.
Wood:
Wood is heavy and very dark, with pale sapwood. Uses include tools and turning blocks; the fruit has been used to make a black dye.
Similar Species:
Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a medium to large tree with dark, blocky bark and large, edible fruits in the fall. Common crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) has smooth, muscular trunks and branches with peeling bark.
Interesting Facts:
Wood is suitable for making salt shakers because it absorbs moisture.
