Tropical Plant "Caqui-do-mato"
Diospyros brasiliensis

Characteristics - Diospyros basilientsis is not a cultivated fruit tree nor is it frequent in nature. Native to the latifoliat, semideciduous forest of the Parana River basin and the transition to the savannas and barren lands (cerrados & cerradoes) in the states of Goias, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo. It is a semi-deciduous, dimorphic tree, 6-10 m tall. Leaves are simple, subcoriaceous, concolored, ferruginous-tomentose when young and glabrate later, 8-16 cm long. Flowers are solitary, axillary, quasi-sessile forming during the months of August-October. Fruits are globose, with a thin pulp, mucilaginous and slightly sweet, with 6-10 black seeds, maturing during the summer.

Uses - The fruits are consumed only in their natural state. They are not widely appreciated because they contain little edible pulp which is difficult to extract.

Propagation - Propagated exclsively by seeds.