Japanese Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
カキノキ
A deciduous tall tree native to Japan and China, and one of the most iconic autumn fruit trees. The large orange fruits are enjoyed fresh and as dried persimmon (hoshigaki), and the tree is widely cultivated in farmyards and satoyama landscapes.
Identification Points
- ✓Fruit is a large orange berry with a persistent four-lobed calyx
- ✓Leaves are ovate to elliptical, glossy, with beautiful autumn coloration
- ✓Bark is grayish-brown with irregular fissures
Habitat
Rural areas, gardens, and satoyama landscapes
Season
October–November (fruit)
3D Specimen Model
Kyushu University, Shikano Lab (CC0)
View on Sketchfab→Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Dissected
Leaf shape
Round
Flowering season
Autumn
Habitat
Cultivated
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Phylogenetic Positionカキノキ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Ericales > Ebenaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 55 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
The ebony family accumulates large amounts of tannin in unripe fruit to deter herbivores; upon ripening, the tannin becomes insoluble and non-astringent, attracting animals for seed dispersal.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification