Diospyros mespiliformis - Revision history

47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

2026-09-30T05:48:04Z

Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:48, 30 September 2026
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	! Harvest		! Harvest
	\| Ripe fruit commonly coincides with the dry season; regional timing varies		\| Ripe fruit commonly coincides with the dry season; regional timing varies
	\|-
	~~! Years to fruit~~
	~~\| N/A~~
	\|}		\|}

	'''Jackalberry''' ('''''Diospyros mespiliformis'''''; also West African ebony and African ebony) is an evergreen African tree in the family [[Ebenaceae]]. Its ripe fruit is a yellow to orange fleshy berry~~, and the~~ species is also valued locally for timber and other products.<sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1\|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup>		'''Jackalberry''' ('''''Diospyros mespiliformis'''''; also West African ebony and African ebony) is an evergreen African tree in the family [[Ebenaceae]]. Its ripe fruit is a yellow to orange fleshy berry. The species is also valued locally for timber and other products.<sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1\|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup>

	== Description ==		== Description ==
	[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis 0001.jpg~~\|thumb\|left~~\|240px\|Jackalberry tree ~~in a species record identified as ''~~Diospyros mespiliformis''. Photo by Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.]]		[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis 0001.jpg\|240px\|Jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis). Photo by Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.]]

	The tree has a dense, rounded evergreen crown and may be 15–50 m tall, although trees in drier sites are often much smaller than those in wetter habitats. Leaves are alternate, glossy, and leathery. The flowers are white and fragrant; male flowers are clustered while female flowers are solitary. The fleshy berries are usually globose, up to about 3 cm across, yellowish to orange-yellow when ripe, and surrounded by a persistent, enlarged calyx.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-4">[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>		The tree has a dense, rounded evergreen crown and may be 15–50 m tall, although trees in drier sites are often much smaller than those in wetter habitats. Leaves are alternate, glossy, and leathery. The flowers are cream to white and fragrant; male flowers are clustered while female flowers are solitary. The fleshy berries are usually globose, up to about 3 cm across, yellowish to orange-yellow when ripe, and surrounded by a persistent, enlarged calyx.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-4">[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>

	== Distribution and habitat ==		== Distribution and habitat ==
	''Diospyros mespiliformis'' occurs across tropical and eastern to southern Africa, including areas from Ethiopia southward to Eswatini. It grows in woodland and savanna, along riverbanks and seasonal watercourses, in swamps, and on termite mounds. Permanent or dependable subsurface moisture supports natural regeneration, ~~but~~ the species also occurs in drier open woodland.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>		''Diospyros mespiliformis'' occurs across tropical and eastern to southern Africa, including areas from Ethiopia southward to Eswatini. It grows in woodland and savanna, along riverbanks and seasonal watercourses, in swamps, and on termite mounds. Permanent or dependable subsurface moisture supports natural regeneration, while the species also occurs in drier open woodland.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>

	== Cultivation ==		== Cultivation ==
	Jackalberry is suited to the dry to moist tropics. ~~Growth is strongest where daytime temperatures are about 16–27 °C, annual rainfall is roughly 500–1,270 mm,~~ and frost ~~is absent~~. ~~Young plants need reliable moisture while establishing; mature~~ trees ~~can occupy~~ seasonal ~~landscapes when their roots can reach persistent water~~.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>		Jackalberry is suited to the dry to moist tropics. The species accounts place it in sunny sites with adequate water and little or no frost. Natural performance varies with habitat: trees occur in drier woodland as well as beside seasonal watercourses, swamps, and other sites with dependable moisture.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	=== Soil and water ===		=== Soil and water ===
	Use a deep~~, well-drained~~ soil that ~~can hold~~ moisture ~~without remaining stagnant~~. ~~Natural sites~~ include rocky ground beside seasonal watercourses, swamps~~, moist red loams, volcanic soils, loamy sands~~, and termite mounds. A mildly acid soil around pH 5.5–6 is reported. ~~In cultivation, supplemental~~ irrigation is most useful ~~during establishment~~ and through ~~the~~ dry season when the planting site lacks dependable subsoil moisture.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup>		Use a deep soil that holds moisture while draining freely. Recorded settings include moist red loams, loamy sands, volcanic soils, rocky ground beside seasonal watercourses, swamps, and termite mounds. A mildly acid soil around pH 5.5–6.5 is reported. Supplemental irrigation is most useful while a young tree establishes and through a dry season when the planting site lacks dependable subsoil moisture.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	=== Sun and humidity ===		=== Sun and humidity ===
	~~Give young trees full sun with enough water to prevent prolonged establishment stress. The species is associated with~~ open woodland and savanna as well as riverine settings~~, so it does not require permanent deep shade~~; ~~atmospheric humidity is naturally higher near watercourses and in wetter habitats. Provide ample~~ room for the ~~mature~~ crown ~~and good airflow around the foliage~~.<sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>		Species accounts place jackalberry in a sunny position and describe it from open woodland and savanna as well as wetter riverine settings. Give an establishing tree strong light and enough water to prevent prolonged drought stress; the site should have enough room for the large crown.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>

	=== Seasonal changes ===		=== Seasonal changes ===
	Flowering follows the rainy season, while fruit ripening commonly coincides with the dry season about six to eight months after pollination. In southern Africa, flowering is reported around October and November and fruiting from April through September. Maintain moisture ~~during~~ the rainy-season growth flush and ~~protect~~ young trees ~~from drying out~~ as the dry season advances.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>		Flowering follows the rainy season, while fruit ripening commonly coincides with the dry season about six to eight months after pollination. In southern Africa, flowering is reported around October and November and fruiting from April through September. Maintain moisture through the rainy-season growth flush and do not allow young trees to dry severely as the dry season advances; local timing varies across the species' broad range.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	== Propagation ==		== Propagation ==
	Fresh seed and root-segment cuttings are documented propagation methods. A 2022 Benin ~~study found~~ the strongest seed emergence, about 69.9–86.67%, when seed from woodland, savanna, or parkland sources was sown in compost or clay after boiling-water treatment or removal of the seed coat; untreated seed in sandy or inundated-forest conditions performed less well. ~~Root cuttings also produced~~ leafy shoots, with results varying by substrate and cutting source.<sup id="cite_ref-5">[[#cite_note-5\|[5]]]</sup>		Fresh seed and root-segment cuttings are documented propagation methods. A 2022 Benin propagation experiment reported the strongest seed emergence, about 69.9–86.67%, when seed from woodland, savanna, or parkland sources was sown in compost or clay after boiling-water treatment or removal of the seed coat; untreated seed in sandy or inundated-forest conditions performed less well. The same experiment reported leafy shoots from root cuttings, with results varying by substrate and cutting source.<sup id="cite_ref-5">[[#cite_note-5\|[5]]]</sup>

			The species has a taproot and is reported to be sensitive to transplanting. Seed is described as orthodox, so freshly collected seed should be handled promptly and stored under suitable dry-seed conditions when immediate sowing is not possible. Root suckers and coppice are also reported as vegetative options, although their performance is not quantified here.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==		== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
	The species is dioecious ~~and is pollinated by bees~~, so fruit ~~production requires access to both sexes~~ or a ~~known~~ fruiting female. Ripe fruit is yellow to orange and develops during the dry-season period in the southern African schedule ~~cited~~ above. ~~No dependable species-wide years-~~to~~-first-fruit value is established; seedling age, sex,~~ moisture~~, and regional climate all affect the wait for a crop~~.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>		The species is dioecious, with bee pollination reported. Fruiting therefore depends on a female tree receiving pollen; a planting intended for fruit should include a compatible pollen source or be established near a fruiting male and female population.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup> Ripe fruit is yellow to orange and develops during the dry-season period in the southern African schedule described above. Regional flowering and harvest timing should be expected to vary with rainfall pattern and site moisture.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	== Fruit and uses ==		== Fruit and uses ==
	Ripe berries are eaten locally ~~and are also consumed by birds~~, ~~mammals, and other wildlife~~. The fruit is the relevant food crop here; timber, medicinal, and other traditional uses ~~should not be confused with~~ fruit quality or orchard performance. Fruit gathered from wild or semi-managed trees may vary with site and season.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4\|[4]]]</sup>		Ripe berries are eaten locally, including fresh or dried preparations. The fruit is the relevant food crop here; timber, medicinal, and other traditional uses are separate from fruit quality or orchard performance. Fruit gathered from wild or semi-managed trees may vary with site and season.<sup>[[#cite_note-2\|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3\|[3]]]</sup>

	== Photos ==		== Photos ==
	[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis Kruger-NP.jpg\|260px\|~~A jackalberry~~ on the bank of the Sabie River in southern Kruger National Park. Photo by Mammalwatcher, CC0.]]		[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis Kruger-NP.jpg\|260px\|Jackalberry on the bank of the Sabie River in southern Kruger National Park. Photo by Mammalwatcher, CC0.]]

	== References ==		== References ==
Line 89:		Line 88:
	* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3\|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Diospyros_mespiliformis.PDF World Agroforestry: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Botanical description, ecology, climate, soil, flowering, fruiting, and distribution.		* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3\|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Diospyros_mespiliformis.PDF World Agroforestry: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Botanical description, ecology, climate, soil, flowering, fruiting, and distribution.

	* <span id="cite_note-4"></span>[[#cite_ref-4\|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://pza.sanbi.org/diospyros-mespiliformis PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Description, savanna and woodland habitat, fruit, and ~~ecological relationships~~.		* <span id="cite_note-4"></span>[[#cite_ref-4\|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://pza.sanbi.org/diospyros-mespiliformis PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Description, savanna and woodland habitat, fruit, and propagation.

	* <span id="cite_note-5"></span>[[#cite_ref-5\|↑]] '''[5]''' [https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/6e936e18-d8a7-4550-b7a5-29f9cc96c330 Gnonlonfin, L.; Ouinsavi, C.; Gouwakinnou, G.; Biaou, H. “Propagation and growth from seeds and root segment cuttings of fruit tree-plus Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) in Benin West Africa.” FAO, 2022]. Seed and root-cutting propagation experiment.		* <span id="cite_note-5"></span>[[#cite_ref-5\|↑]] '''[5]''' [https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/6e936e18-d8a7-4550-b7a5-29f9cc96c330 Gnonlonfin, L.; Ouinsavi, C.; Gouwakinnou, G.; Biaou, H. “Propagation and growth from seeds and root segment cuttings of fruit tree-plus Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) in Benin West Africa.” FAO, 2022]. Seed and root-cutting propagation experiment.

47.214.193.24: Publish fact-checked fruit article with verified media

2026-08-29T00:24:45Z

Publish fact-checked fruit article with verified media

New page

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Jackalberry (''Diospyros mespiliformis'')
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:Diospyros mespiliformis MS 2107.JPG|250px|Ripe fruits of Diospyros mespiliformis in south-west Burkina Faso. Photo by Marco Schmidt, CC BY-SA 3.0.]]
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Diospyros mespiliformis''
|-
! Common names
| jackalberry; West African ebony; African ebony
|-
! Genus
| [[Diospyros]]
|-
! Family
| [[Ebenaceae]]
|-
! Order
| [[Ericales]]
|-
! Fruit type
| Fleshy berry
|-
! Growth form
| Evergreen tree
|-
! Native range
| Tropical and eastern to southern Africa
|-
! Climate and site
| Dry to moist tropics; deep moisture or seasonal water available
|-
! Mature size
| About 15–50 m, varying with moisture and habitat
|-
! Propagation
| Seed; root-segment cuttings
|-
! Fruit
| Yellow to orange berry, up to about 3 cm across
|-
! Harvest
| Ripe fruit commonly coincides with the dry season; regional timing varies
|-
! Years to fruit
| N/A
|}

'''Jackalberry''' ('''''Diospyros mespiliformis'''''; also West African ebony and African ebony) is an evergreen African tree in the family [[Ebenaceae]]. Its ripe fruit is a yellow to orange fleshy berry, and the species is also valued locally for timber and other products.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

== Description ==
[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis 0001.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Jackalberry tree in a species record identified as ''Diospyros mespiliformis''. Photo by Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.]]

The tree has a dense, rounded evergreen crown and may be 15–50 m tall, although trees in drier sites are often much smaller than those in wetter habitats. Leaves are alternate, glossy, and leathery. The flowers are white and fragrant; male flowers are clustered while female flowers are solitary. The fleshy berries are usually globose, up to about 3 cm across, yellowish to orange-yellow when ripe, and surrounded by a persistent, enlarged calyx.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

== Distribution and habitat ==
''Diospyros mespiliformis'' occurs across tropical and eastern to southern Africa, including areas from Ethiopia southward to Eswatini. It grows in woodland and savanna, along riverbanks and seasonal watercourses, in swamps, and on termite mounds. Permanent or dependable subsurface moisture supports natural regeneration, but the species also occurs in drier open woodland.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

== Cultivation ==
Jackalberry is suited to the dry to moist tropics. Growth is strongest where daytime temperatures are about 16–27 °C, annual rainfall is roughly 500–1,270 mm, and frost is absent. Young plants need reliable moisture while establishing; mature trees can occupy seasonal landscapes when their roots can reach persistent water.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

=== Soil and water ===
Use a deep, well-drained soil that can hold moisture without remaining stagnant. Natural sites include rocky ground beside seasonal watercourses, swamps, moist red loams, volcanic soils, loamy sands, and termite mounds. A mildly acid soil around pH 5.5–6 is reported. In cultivation, supplemental irrigation is most useful during establishment and through the dry season when the planting site lacks dependable subsoil moisture.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

=== Sun and humidity ===
Give young trees full sun with enough water to prevent prolonged establishment stress. The species is associated with open woodland and savanna as well as riverine settings, so it does not require permanent deep shade; atmospheric humidity is naturally higher near watercourses and in wetter habitats. Provide ample room for the mature crown and good airflow around the foliage.[[#cite_note-3|[3]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

=== Seasonal changes ===
Flowering follows the rainy season, while fruit ripening commonly coincides with the dry season about six to eight months after pollination. In southern Africa, flowering is reported around October and November and fruiting from April through September. Maintain moisture during the rainy-season growth flush and protect young trees from drying out as the dry season advances.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

== Propagation ==
Fresh seed and root-segment cuttings are documented propagation methods. A 2022 Benin study found the strongest seed emergence, about 69.9–86.67%, when seed from woodland, savanna, or parkland sources was sown in compost or clay after boiling-water treatment or removal of the seed coat; untreated seed in sandy or inundated-forest conditions performed less well. Root cuttings also produced leafy shoots, with results varying by substrate and cutting source.[[#cite_note-5|[5]]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
The species is dioecious and is pollinated by bees, so fruit production requires access to both sexes or a known fruiting female. Ripe fruit is yellow to orange and develops during the dry-season period in the southern African schedule cited above. No dependable species-wide years-to-first-fruit value is established; seedling age, sex, moisture, and regional climate all affect the wait for a crop.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

== Fruit and uses ==
Ripe berries are eaten locally and are also consumed by birds, mammals, and other wildlife. The fruit is the relevant food crop here; timber, medicinal, and other traditional uses should not be confused with fruit quality or orchard performance. Fruit gathered from wild or semi-managed trees may vary with site and season.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

== Photos ==
[[File:Diospyros mespiliformis Kruger-NP.jpg|260px|A jackalberry on the bank of the Sabie River in southern Kruger National Park. Photo by Mammalwatcher, CC0.]]

== References ==
* [[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Diospyros%20mespiliformis GBIF species match: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Exact accepted match; family, order, and genus.

* [[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Diospyros+mespiliformis Useful Tropical Plants: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Habit, range, habitat, cultivation, phenology, propagation, fruit, and uses.

* [[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Diospyros_mespiliformis.PDF World Agroforestry: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Botanical description, ecology, climate, soil, flowering, fruiting, and distribution.

* [[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://pza.sanbi.org/diospyros-mespiliformis PlantZAfrica, South African National Biodiversity Institute: ''Diospyros mespiliformis'']. Description, savanna and woodland habitat, fruit, and ecological relationships.

* [[#cite_ref-5|↑]] '''[5]''' [https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/6e936e18-d8a7-4550-b7a5-29f9cc96c330 Gnonlonfin, L.; Ouinsavi, C.; Gouwakinnou, G.; Biaou, H. “Propagation and growth from seeds and root segment cuttings of fruit tree-plus Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) in Benin West Africa.” FAO, 2022]. Seed and root-cutting propagation experiment.

== Image credits ==
* Summary fruit: ''Diospyros mespiliformis MS 2107.JPG'' — Marco Schmidt, CC BY-SA 3.0; [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diospyros_mespiliformis_MS_2107.JPG file page].
* Description tree: ''Diospyros mespiliformis 0001.jpg'' — Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0; [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diospyros_mespiliformis_0001.jpg file page].
* Riverbank habitat: ''Diospyros mespiliformis Kruger-NP.jpg'' — Mammalwatcher, CC0; [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diospyros_mespiliformis_Kruger-NP.jpg file page].

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Diospyros]]
[[Category:Tropical fruit trees]]