The adaptive nature of the African ebony is reflected in the diversity of its form. In areas with plentiful water supply it is evergreen whereas in drier locations it tends to become more deciduous. It varies considerably in height, growing 12-15 metres tall in drier areas of its range and 25-50 metres in the wetter areas. The typical appearance of Diospyros mespiliformis is as follows:
Bark
The bark of African ebony is dark grey to black in color, with a rough texture. The fresh inner skin of the bark, however, is reddish. As the tree matures, the bark develops deep vertical and horizontal fissures. These intersecting lines create a pattern of square blocks that strongly resemble alligator skin or a tessellated pavement.
Leaves
The leaves of Diospyros mespiliformis are simple, leathery and alternate. They are dark green in color above, and paler below. However, new leaves in spring are red, especially in young plants. The leaves are hairless. Nevertheless, younger leaves are covered in fine, pressed-down hairs.
The leaves are oblong-elliptic in shape. They are up to 14 centimeters long and 3 centimeters wide. The edge of the leaves is wavy, and their margin smooth. Their midrib is raised below, and the tip rounded.
Flowers
The flowers of African ebony are bell-shaped, and cream to white in color. They are 1 cm long. They are fragrant. In East and West Africa, Diospyros mespiliformis blooms from April to June. Many insects including bees and wasps pollinate its flowers.
The male and female flowers of African ebony grow on separate trees. They are axillary with hairs on the calyx and pedicel. However, the male flowers have more dense, velvety hair. The male flowers are arranged in groups of three or more on short stalks while female flowers are solitary.
The calyx is divided into 4 or 5 sections, with ovate and acute lobes. The petals are urceolate, and divided into 4 or 5 short, ovate lobes. The stamens are 10 to 16 in number, and smooth.
Fruits
Once the flowers of the African ebony fade, it takes about 6 to 8 months for the fruit to ripen. This means while the tree flowers at the onset of the rainy season, the fruits aren’t ready to eat until the following dry season.
The fruit of Diospyros mespiliformis is fleshy, and is ovoid to round. When ripe, its color is at first yellow and then purple. It is 2.5 cm in diameter. It is embedded in the persistent calyx lobes. The pulp is soft and sweet.
Seeds
Each fruit of the African ebony contains 4 to 6 brown, hairy seeds. The number of seeds per one kilogram is 2,700-3,200. The seeds can be planted without any special treatment. They germinate well.
In open storage, the viability of Diospyros mespiliformis seeds lasts from the harvest until the next planting season. But in hermetic storage, the seeds maintain their viability for very long periods. Under standard hermetic conditions at room temperature, the seeds typically maintain high viability for upto 3 years.
Wood
The sapwood of African ebony is cream-white, and its heartwood yellowish pink. The wood darkens on drying and with age. It gradually becomes dark brown.
The texture of Diospyros mespiliformis is fine. Its grain is straight or slightly interlocked. Its wood is heavy, very hard, strong and very durable. It is resistant to fungi, dry wood borers, and termites.
References
Bein, E. and others (1996) Useful Trees and Shrubs in Eritrea: Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit: Nairobi.
Bekele-Tesemma, Azene (2007) Useful Trees of Ethiopia: Identification, Propagation and Management in 17 Agroecological Zones. RELMA in ICRAF Project: Nairobi.
Ferret, Pierre Victor Adolphe et Galinier, Joseph Germain (1848) Voyage en Abyssinie dans les provinces du tigre, du samen et de L’amhara: Atlas. Paulin: Paris.
Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Diospyros mespiliformis. Retrieved from https://prota.prota4u.org/protav8.asp?g=pe&p=Diospyros%20mespiliformis
PlantZAfrica. Diospyros mespiliformis. Retrieved from https://pza.sanbi.org/diospyros-mespiliformis
Plants of the World Online. Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC. Kew Science. Retrieved from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:322702-1
Kew Science – Plants of the World Online. Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A.DC. Retrieved from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:322702-1#:~:text=Angola%2C%20Benin%2C%20Botswana%2C%20Burkina,Sudan%2C%20Tanzania%2C%20Uganda%2C%20Yemen
Useful Tropical Plants. Diospyros mespiliformis. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Diospyros+mespiliformis
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2025-09-30.