Diospyros ebenum aka Ebony

Diospyros ebenum is known as ebony or Ceylon ebony. It belongs to the Ebenaceae family. It is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Its range also includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It grows in the tropics, in places with a dry season. It lives in moist coastal woods and lowland forests. It also grows below taller trees in dry evergreen forests. Wild trees face heavy harvest for their wood. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2011 IUCN assessment. This lists the tree as Data Deficient.

This evergreen grows slowly and has a dense crown. Its trunk is straight. Garden sources give a height and spread of 66 feet [20 m]. Larger trees can reach 98 feet [30 m] tall. The trunk can grow about 3 feet [0.9 m] thick. Buttresses at its base may rise 6.6 feet [2 m]. The inner wood, or heartwood, is black. The outer wood is pale yellow-grey and may have dark streaks. The wood has a fine texture and straight grain.

Insects pollinate the flowers, and the tree draws wildlife. People can eat the raw fruit, but it feels gummy. It has an astringent taste that makes the mouth feel dry. People have eaten it when other food was scarce. Sources also report its use as a fish poison. This calls for care, though people have eaten it. Past remedies use the fruit to help break down stones. Crushed bark and leaves form a plaster that causes blisters. These past uses do not prove that treatment is safe.

In gardens, ebony needs sun and soil that drains well. It grows in sand, loam, and clay soils. It prefers soil that contains clay. It accepts slightly acid, neutral, and slightly alkaline ground. Keep the soil moist, though it grows in drier tropical regions. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. It also notes that frost can harm the tree. Fresh seed soon loses its power to sprout. Sow it soon after harvest. Remove the fruit flesh, which can hinder seed sprouting. Young seedlings need shade and regular water during early growth.

Growers plant ebony for timber, shade, and as specimen trees. It also shades cardamom crops. Listed uses include bonsai, large pots, and conservatories. Its hard, heavy wood resists fungi and wood-boring insects. This does not prove that living trees resist them. Woodworkers use the timber for furniture, sports goods, and instruments. The wood takes a glossy finish. But working it by hand is hard, and drying poses problems.