Is gaub the same as the persimmon sold in shops?

No — it's a wild relative in the same genus (Diospyros) as commercial persimmon and ebony, but Diospyros malabarica's fruit is smaller and much less commonly eaten.

Why does it grow along rivers?

It tolerates and often prefers moist, waterlogged ground, which is why it's commonly found lining riverbanks and wetland edges.

✿Ebenaceae · Diospyros

Gaab / Gaub Persimon

Diospyros malabarica

Also known as Indian Persimon, River Ebony, Malabar Ebony, Gaub Tree, Riber Ebony, Wild Mangosteen

Treeoutdoor

Habit: Tree
Found in India: Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & more
Flowering: March-April; Aprilil onwards

Identify this plant with SASYA

How to identify Gaab

Identify Gaab by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.

Look for a tree habit.
Check the distinctive field mark: Large tree, black astringent fruit (gaub/river ebony).
Confirm leaf shape: Obovate (egg-shaped, broad at tip).
Confirm leaf surface: Glabrous (smooth, hairless).
Confirm flower colour: White.
In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: March-April; Aprilil onwards.
In India, compare location records such as Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and nearby regions.

Plant Details

Scientific name: Diospyros malabarica
Genus: Diospyros
Family: Ebenaceae
Habit: Tree
Habitat: Stream banks of mixed forests, Evergreen forests and sacred groves
Habitat type: Wetland, Forest
Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Himalayas, Siam, W.Malesia, Indo-China
Found in India: Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha
Flowering & fruiting: March-April; Aprilil onwards
Conservation status: Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf shape: Obovate (egg-shaped, broad at tip)recorded
Leaf surface: Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded

Characters marked “recorded” are for Gaab itself; the rest are typical of the Ebenaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower colour: Whiterecorded“Diospyros malabarica, the gaub tree, Malabar ebony, black-and-white ebony or pale moon ebony, is a species of flowering tree in the family Ebenaceae that is native to the Indian su” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit: Berry

Characters marked “recorded” are for Gaab itself; the rest are typical of the Ebenaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi: गाब Gaab, Gaub
Bengali: দেশি গাব
Tamil: தும்பிகா Tumbika, Gaab, தும்பிலி மரம்
Telugu: Bandadamara, Panancca
Kannada: Bandadamara, ಎಬನಿ ಮರ
Malayalam: Panancca, പനച്ചി, Black-and-white Ebony, Temburi
Marathi: Temburi, Tumbika, टेंभुर्णी
Assamese: Kandu

Gaab in India

This tall tree, known as गाब Gaab (Hindi), தும்பிகா Tumbika (Tamil), Bandadamara (Telugu), Bandadamara (Kannada), Panancca (Malayalam), Temburi (Marathi), is a common sight along rivers and wetlands. Diospyros malabarica is found across Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka, typically near water.

Uses

Its wood has been used for construction and furniture, and the ripe fruit, though astringent, is eaten locally in some areas once fully soft — the same genus as commercial ebony and true persimmon.

How to Identify Gaab

A tall evergreen tree, often buttressed at the base, with glossy dark green leaves paler underneath. Small, cream, urn-shaped flowers are followed by round fruit that ripens from green to yellow-orange, topped with a persistent four-lobed calyx.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gaub Persimon called in different Indian languages?: गाब Gaab (Hindi); தும்பிகா Tumbika (Tamil); Bandadamara (Telugu); Bandadamara (Kannada); Panancca (Malayalam); Temburi (Marathi); দেশি গাব (Bengali).
Is gaub the same as the persimmon sold in shops?: No — it's a wild relative in the same genus (Diospyros) as commercial persimmon and ebony, but Diospyros malabarica's fruit is smaller and much less commonly eaten.
Why does it grow along rivers?: It tolerates and often prefers moist, waterlogged ground, which is why it's commonly found lining riverbanks and wetland edges.

Botanical family

Ebenaceae

Ebony/Persimmon family

Gaab belongs to the Ebenaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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More in Ebenaceae

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Sources: GBIF — Diospyros malabarica (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Diospyros malabarica (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)