Diospyros blancoi

Cultivation

It is a dioecious tropical tree that grows well in a diversity of soil, from sea level to 2400 ft above sea level. Seed trees are normally planted 30-45 ft from each other; this one can be planted from 25-30 ft from each other. It needs a good distribution of rainfall through the year. Trees that were planted by seeds could take 6 or 7 years to give out fruit, but trees that were propagated by cuttings produce fruit in 3 or 4 years. It is a very productive tree.

The fact that fruits vary greatly – in shape, color, hairiness and taste – suggests that there is a great deal of genetic variation in the plant. Seedless cultivars exist, and are highly favored since in the normal varieties the large seeds occupy a considerable volume of the fruit.

File:Velvet apple (Diospyros discolor).jpg|Velvet apple (Diospyros discolor) File:Velvet apple (sliced).jpg|Velvet apple (sliced) File:Velvet apple (Diospyros discolor) seeds.jpg|Velvet apple (Diospyros discolor) seeds Image:Mabolo (Diospyros blancoi) fruit.jpg|Mabolo fruit

Timber

Like that of other trees in Dyospiros, which includes ebony, Kamagong timber is extremely dense and hard and is famous for its dark color.

The wood is generally used for house construction which include flooring, post, doors, and windows, among others. Finished products from kamagong wood, such as fine furniture and decoratives can be exported, provided that they are properly documented and approved by the Customs authorities. Kamagong is also popular for martial arts training implements such as bokken and eskrima sticks.

Secondary metabolites

The leaves of velvet apple trees have been shown to contain isoarborinol methyl ether (also called cylindrin) and fatty esters of α- and β-amyrin. Both isoarborinol methyl ether and the amyrin mixture demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have also been shown for the isolated amyrin mixture.

Governance

It is an endangered tree species and protected by Philippine law – it is illegal to export kamagong timber from the country without special permission from the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

References

References

1. {{GRIN
2. (1970). "Tropical Trees of the Pacific". Hargreaves.
3. Boning, Charles R.. (2006). "Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs, and Vines". Pineapple Press, Inc..
4. (January 2016). "Analysis of aroma compounds and nutrient contents of mabolo (Diospyros blancoi A. DC.), an ethnobotanical fruit of Austronesian Taiwan". Journal of Food and Drug Analysis.
5. (1987). "Fruits of Warm Climates". Creative Resources Systems.
6. (2010). "Traditional and Emerging Species for Furniture and Handicraft Industries". Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau.
7. (8 Apr 2015). "Balintawak: Lessons in Eskrima". iUniverse.
8. Ragasa, CY. (November 2009). "Bioactive triterpenes from Diospyros blancoi". Natural Product Research.