Bastard Ebony
Diospyros ovalifolia
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
- Flowering
- April-July
How to identify Bastard Ebony
Identify Bastard Ebony 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.
- Confirm leaf arrangement: Alternate.
- Confirm leaf type: Simple.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: April-July.
- In India, compare location records such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.
- Confirm it sits within the Ebenaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Bastard Ebony.
Plant Details
Leaf characters
- Leaf arrangement
- AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.“Leaves are simple, alternate, and distichous.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf type
- SimplerecordedA single, undivided leaf blade.“Leaves are simple, alternate, and distichous.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf shape
- ObovaterecordedEgg-shaped but broader near the tip rather than the base.“Lamina is 5-13 x 1.5–5 cm, usually narrow obovate.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf margin
- EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.“The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous with entire margin.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- GlabrousrecordedSmooth, hairless.“Petiole is 0.5-1.0 cm long, canaliculate and glabrous.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Characters marked “recorded” are for Bastard Ebony itself; the rest are typical of the Ebenaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Inflorescence
- Panicle
- Fruit
- Berry
Typical of the Ebenaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Malayalam
- ചെറുതുവര, കരിമ്പാല, വെടുക്കനാറി
About Bastard Ebony
Bastard Ebony (Diospyros ovalifolia) belongs to the Ebenaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It grows in dry evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests. Flowering and fruiting run from April to July.
Ebenaceae
Ebony/Persimmon family
Bastard Ebony belongs to the Ebenaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Ebenaceae familySnap it. Know it.
Point your camera at Bastard Ebony or any plant and SASYA identifies it instantly — on-device, offline, and private.
Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
All plant problem & care guides