View source for Biology:Date-plum

{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{speciesbox
|name = Date-plum
|image = Diospyros_lotus_01.jpg
|image_caption = Branches with fruit
|genus = Diospyros
|species = lotus
|authority = [[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
|synonyms =
    {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
*''Dactylus trapezuntinus'' <small>Forssk.</small>
*''Diospyros calycina'' <small>Dippel</small>
*''Diospyros mediterranea'' <small>Oken</small>
*''Diospyros microcarpa'' <small>Siebold</small>
*''Diospyros umlovok'' <small>Griff.</small>
    }}
|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{citation
|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2770056
|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species
|access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>
}}

'''''Diospyros lotus''''', with common names '''date-plum,''' '''Caucasian persimmon,''' or '''lilac persimmon,''' is a widely cultivated species of the [[Biology:Genus|genus]] ''[[Biology:Diospyros|Diospyros]]'', native to subtropical southwest [[Earth:Asia|Asia]] and southeast [[Earth:Europe|Europe]]. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both [[Biology:Plum|plum]]s and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation.

== Distribution and ecology ==

The species area extends from East Asia to the west of the Mediterranean, down to Spain. The date-plum is native to southwest Asia and southeast Europe. It was known to the ancient {{wipe|Ancient Greece}} as "God's fruit" ({{lang|grc|{{linktext|Διός}} {{linktext|πυρός}}}}, ''Diós pŷrós''), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its [[Social:English language|English]] name probably derives from Persian ''Khormaloo'' خرمالو literally "date-plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both [[Biology:Plum|plum]]s and dates. The fruit is called ''Amlok'' املوک in {{wipe|Pakistan}} and consumed dried. This species is one candidate for the "lotus tree" mentioned in ''The Odyssey'': it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.<ref>{{cite web
   |url        = https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727
   |title      = The Odyssey
   |author     = Homer
   |page       = 76
   |publisher  = Project Gutenberg
   |date       = 
   |access-date = 2007-10-13
    }}</ref>

The tree grows in the lower and middle mountain zones in the Caucasus. They usually grow up to 600 m above sea level. In Central Asia, it rises higher—up to 2000 m. They rarely grow in stands but often grow with hackberry, ash, maple and other deciduous species. It is not demanding on the soil and can grow on rocky slopes but requires a well lit environment.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

It is cultivated at the limits of its range, as well as in the U.S. and North Africa.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

== Biological description ==
This is a tree height of 15–30 m with sloughing of aging bark.

The leaves are shiny, leathery, oval-shaped with pointed ends, 5–15&nbsp;cm long and 3–6&nbsp;cm in width.

The flowers are small, greenish, appearing in June to July.

Fruits are berries with juicy flesh, yellow when ripe, 1–2&nbsp;cm in diameter. Seeds with thin skin and a very hard endosperm.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Diospyros_lotus_02.jpg|The fruit of date-plum.
File:K%C3%BC%C3%A7%C3%BCk_meyveli_Trabzon_hurmas%C4%B1.JPG|The leaves of date-plum.
File:Diospyros_lotus1.jpg|The trunk of date-plum.
</gallery>

== Usage == 
Caucasian persimmon fruits are edible and contain much sugar, [[Chemistry:Malic acid|malic acid]], and vitamins. They are used as fresh fruits or after frost, but usually dried. Drying and frost destroy their tartness.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q771101}}

[[Category:Diospyros]]

{{Sourceattribution|Date-plum}}