Diospyros mun aka Ebony

Diospyros mun is in Ebenaceae, the ebony family. People call it mun ebony and Vietnamese ebony. Kew gives its native range as Cambodia to southern Vietnam. Useful Tropical Plants lists Laos and Vietnam too. The sources thus differ on the bounds of its range. Kew links this tree to a wet tropical climate. It grows on limestone mountains below 2,625 feet [800 metres].

The tree grows slowly, with a dense crown and low branches. Useful Tropical Plants lists its height as 49 feet [15 metres]. Its full account gives a maximum of 59 feet [18 metres]. The round trunk can reach 1.3 feet [0.4 metres] across. Branches start near the base, leaving no long, clear trunk. The tree can grow shoots, called suckers, near its stump. The accounts say little about its leaves or bark. They do not describe its flowers or say when it blooms.

Grow this tree on a site in full sun. It can grow in poor soil. Once it has settled in, it can cope with drought. This does not mean it tolerates drought at all growth stages. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. The sources cover wild trees and trees that people grow. Useful Tropical Plants says people grow it only on occasion. The sources give no crown width for a full-grown tree. They list no pests known to affect this species. Nor do they name diseases that affect it.

People prize the wood for its dark colour and weight. The heartwood turns glossy black as it dries. People carve this hard wood into statues and flower pots. They also make chopsticks from it. Fresh seeds yield black dye for silk and other cloth. The fruits and leaves give black dye too. People also use the bark to preserve drinks that contain alcohol. These accounts focus on uses for materials, not food or medicine. Neither source lists a use as food or medicine. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards. This does not prove the tree is safe.

High demand for the wood has cut wild tree numbers. Useful Tropical Plants cites a 2011 listing as Critically Endangered. The supplied evidence does not confirm a more recent review. The account blames the loss on taking too many wild trees. Its small range adds to this concern for its future. The records show its main value lies in wood and dye. They do not show a distinct role in garden design.