Tropical Plant "Fruta-de-boi"
Diospyros hispida

Characteristics - Dispyros hispida is not a cultivated fruit tree. It is frequent in its natural labitat, the scrublands and savannas (cerra-los) of central Brazil and in the northeast, Tom Ceara, Piaui and Maranhao south to vlato Grosso do Sul and Parana. It is a small ree, deciduous, dimorphic, 4-7 m tall, with a wisted trunk. Leaves are simple, ferruginous-mbescent, brilliant on the upper surface, from 2-18 cm long. Flowers are solitary, quasi-ses-ile with a greenish corolla, unisexual. They brm during the months of August-November, 'raits are globose drupes with 6-8 brown eeds surrounded by a thin, mucilagenous iulp with a sweet, pleasant flavor. They ripen luring the summer months.

Uses - The fruits are consumed only in their atural state but are not appreciated very much ecause they contain little edible pulp.

Propagation - Propagated exclusively by seeds.