File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20315037348).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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216 COMMON PERSIMMON Diospyros virginiana, Linnaeus FAMILY AND GENUS DESCRIPTION—The Ebony fnmily, Ebenaceao, is widely distributed in tlie tropics, und only a few rei)re8entatives are found in tl\e temperate regions. It compriseg about 6 genera witii more than 250 species. Tlie most imiwrtant genus i.s Diospyros which has 2 representatives in the flora of the United States and 1 in Pennsylvania. This genus comprises about 160 species found mostly in the tropics. Members of this genus produce some of the ebony of commerce, and valuable foods in China and Japan. The species described below is the sole representative of this genus in eastern North America. One other species is found in the southern and western parts of Texas. FORM—A small tree usually from 25 to 50 ft. in height with a diameter of less than 12 inches, but may reach a height of 100 ft. with a diameter of 2 feet. Trunk usually short and slender. Crown high and broad topped. It often spreads by roots migrating under the ground, forming dense thickets. BARK—On old trunks, thick, hard, dark gray to dark brown or black, cinnamon-red at the lx)ttom of the Assures; separate* into thick squarish blocks which peel off into thin scales. See Fig. 120. TWIGS—Slender, bitter, astringent, grayish to reddish-brown becoming darker In second year, usually pale pubescent, covered with a few scattered orange-colored lenticels, and contain large pith or pith chamber. BUDS—Alternate, broadly ovate, closely pressed against twig, J of an inch long, sharp- pointed, covered by 2 dark brown glossy scales; terminal bud absent. LEAVES—Alternate, simple, oval, acute at apex, entire on margin, wedge-shaped to heart- shaped at base, 4-6 inches long, thick, dark green and shiny above, often hairy below. Leaf- stalks are J-1 inch long, and contain 1 ftbro-vascular bundle. LEAF-SCARS—Alternate, elevated, flattened, contain 1 prominent bundle-scar which is trans- versely-elongat'^d, or several becoming confluent. FLOWERS—White, appearing about May or June. Staminate and pistillate flowers occur separate. Stan>inate arranged in 2-3 flowered cymes. Pistillate solitary, and borne on short stalks. FRUIT—A juicy spherical orange-colored, often red-cheeked berry with remnants of style persisting and seated in enlarged green calyx. Often very astringent. Sometimes edible be- fore frost appears. Contains from 1-8 seeds, usually 4-6. WOOD—Ring-pKtrous; heavy, hard, compact, strong, susceptible to a high polish; heart-wood is brown to black but usually fonns late; sapwood is wide, yellowish and often streaked with black. Weighs about 49 lbs. i>er cul>ic foot. Used for shuttles, golf club heads, billard cues, mallets, parquet flooring, brush backs, veneer. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS—The Persimmon, also known as Date-plum and Pos- sum-wood, can he distinguished in sunmier by Its alternate, simple, entire-margined, deep green leaves with only 1 ftbro-vascnlar bundle in the leaf-stalk and the rough bark which is often broken up into quadrangular IWocks and is evidently cinnamon-red at the base of the Assures. In autunm the fruit is characteristic. In winter the rough bark with cinnamon-red color at the Iwttoni of the Assures, the semi-orbicular leaf-scars with only 1 bundle-scar, the broadly ovate buds with 2 dark lirovm scales, the reddish-brown slightly pubescent twigs with relatively large pith or pith cavity, and the pi-rsistent remnants of flowers are distinctive. RANGE—Connecticut to Florida, westward to Iowa and Texas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Common in the eastern and southern parts. Ix)cal in the southwestern part and occasional in the central part. Absent in the northern part and Allegheny Mountain region. In the southwestern part reported from Allegheny, Greene, Wash- ington, and Westmoreland counties. Planted trees do well as far north as the A. E. Ball farm near Fredonia in Morcer county. A small group of trees have been reported from Beans Cove, in southern Bedford county, near the Mason and Dixon line. Found in all the counties southeast of the Blue Mountains, that is, below a line drawn fom Northan&pton, through Dauphin to Fulton county. It extends beyond this line along the main river valleys. In the Susiquehanna Valley it extends as far as Union county and follows the Juniata into Huntingdon and Mifflin counties. A few small outposts are reported from Centre county. Large specimens occur in the extreme southeastern part of the State. Trees 18 inches in diameter occur as far north as Easton in Northampton county. Not reported north of the Delaware Water Gap. I I i HABITAT—Prefers a light, somewhat sandy well-drained soil. CKpecially in the South. Tolerates rich bottomlands
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IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The Persimmon is too small in size and too limited In dis- tribution In this S>tate to be of comm«eclal importance from the point of view of wood produc- tion. It la essentially a southern tree. The tree has an attractive form, beautiful clean foliage, and an exceptionally attractive bark. It rarely excee<ls 40 feet in height with a diameter of 12 inches In this State. \ PLATE CXXII. COMMON PERSIMMON 1. A ln'jnicli witli pisliliair llowcrs, x J. 2. A branch witii stiiminiitc tloucrs, .\ l. .'(. A fiiiitiiig biaiich willi niatuii' Iciivcs, x J. 1. .\ winter twij:. luitnial size. 5. Section of a winter twiy, cnlaigcd.

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