Diospyros discolor

Diospyros discolor (commonly known as velvet apple, velvet persimmon, kamagong, or mabolo tree[1]) is a tree of the genus Diospyros of ebony trees and persimmons. Its edible fruit has a skin covered in a fine, velvety fur which is usually reddish-brown, and soft, creamy, pink flesh, with a taste and aroma comparable to a peach.[2] It is indigenous to the Philippines,[3] where kamagong usually refers to the entire tree, and mabolo or tálang is applied to the fruit.

Velvet apple
A velvet apple
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Diospyros
Species:
D. discolor
Binomial name
Diospyros discolor
Synonyms
  • Cavanillea mabolo Poir.
  • Cavanillea philippensis Desr.
  • Diospyros blancoi A.DC.
  • Diospyros durionoides Bakh.
  • Diospyros mabolo (Poir.) Roxb. ex Lindl.
  • Diospyros mabolo Roxb. ex J.V.Thomps.
  • Diospyros malacapai A.DC.
  • Diospyros merrillii Elmer
  • Diospyros philippensis (Desr.) Gürke
  • Diospyros utilis Hemsl.
  • Embryopteris discolor (Willd.) G.Don
  • Mabola edulis Raf.

Cultivation
Mabolo fruit

It is a dioecious tropical tree that grows well in a diversity of soil, from the sea level to the 2,400 feet above sea level. Seed trees are normally planted 30 or 45 feet from each other; this one can be planted from 25 to 30 feet from each other. It needs a good distribution of rainfall through the year. Trees that were planted by seeds could take 6 or 7 years to give out fruit, but trees that were propagated by cuttings produce fruit in 3 or 4 years. It is a very productive tree.

The fact that fruits vary greatly – in shape, color, hairiness and taste – suggests that there is a great deal of genetic variation in the plant. Seedless cultivars exist, and are highly favored since in the normal varieties the large seeds occupy a considerable volume of the fruit.

Timber
A Kamagong chair

Kamagong timber is extremely dense and hard and is famous for its dark color. Like many other very hard woods, it is sometimes called "iron wood" because of the wood's density and hardness.[4]

The wood is generally used for house construction which include flooring, post, doors, and windows, among others.[5] Finished products from kamagong wood, such as fine furniture and decoratives can be exported provided that they are properly documented and approved by the Customs authorities. Kamagong is also popular for martial arts training implements such as bokkens and eskrima sticks.[6]

Secondary metabolites

The leaves of velvet apple trees have been shown to contain isoarborinol methyl ether (also called cylindrin) and fatty esters of α- and β-amyrin.[7] Both isoarborinol methyl ether and the amyrin mixture demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.[7] Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have also been shown for the isolated amyrin mixture.[7]

Governance

It is an endangered tree species and protected by Philippine law - it is illegal to export kamagong timber from the country without special permission from the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

See also

References
  1. "Diospyros discolor". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 20 Nov 2016.
  2. Hargreaves, Dorothy; Hargreaves, Bob (1970). Tropical Trees of the Pacific. Kailua, Hawaii: Hargreaves. p. 29.
  3. Boning, Charles R. (2006). Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc. p. 135. ISBN 1561643726.
  4. Paredes, Aldo (16 Dec 2010). Time Is of the Essence. iUniverse. p. 323. ISBN 978-1-4502-7195-0. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. Traditional and Emerging Species for Furniture and Handicraft Industries (PDF). ERDB, College, Laguna, Philippines: Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. 2010. p. 31. ISBN 978-971-8831-28-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. Maningas, Rad (8 Apr 2015). Balintawak: Lessons in Eskrima. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1-4917-4997-5. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. Ragasa, CY; Puno, MR; Sengson, JMA; Shen, CC; Rideout, JA; Raga, DD (November 2009). "Bioactive triterpenes from Diospyros blancoi". Natural Product Research. 23 (13): 1252–1258. doi:10.1080/14786410902951054. PMID 19731144. S2CID 205836127.
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