Fruits/Seeds
Produces berries that become red when ripe. Fruiting occurs twice a year January – May and October - December.
Field Guide
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Australian Ebony
Did You Know?
- Anindilyakwa people believe that evil spirits which kill people climb this tree, they also note that birds eat the fruit (Levitt 1981)
- Fruit, eaten by some Aboriginal people when ripe, has a floury texture
The Greek "dios" means divine or god-like, and "pyros" means wheat, a reference to the fruit of the gods, as some of the members of the genus have tasty fruit.
A small shrub-like tree with a height of 11 m.
It also flowers and fruits as a shrub. Very dark, mottled grey to black bark on the trunk/body of the tree.
Leaves
Thick leathery leaves 7 - 9 cm long.
What to Observe
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Healthy or unhealthy trees
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Presence of berries (ripe or unripe)
Climate Adaptations
We expect to see signs of stress and dieback in relation to climate change warming and drying their environments. The timing and patterns of fruiting are also likely to change.
When and Where
When To Look
- Flowers during February, October and November
- Fruits produced from January to May and October to December
Where To Look
- Found in mangrove habitats, and toward the fresh water of tidal creeks
What Else?
Similar Species
Black Ebony (Diospyros humilis) is similar in appearance, however can be distinguished by its smaller and more bladed leaves. Dead bark is often quite dark, almost black and layered with brown brittle stripes in the blaze.
