Diospyros kaki

Japanese persimmon, also known as Chinese persimmon or Kaki (from the Japanese 'kaki') is in the ebony or Ebenaceae family and is found mostly in China, Japan and Korea but also in India. It is a medium size tree reaching around 11 m tall and growing to 400 years old. The tree is similar in shape to an apple tree.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, smooth-edged, medium to dark green, oval, stiff and almost as wide as long, turning orange and red in autumn.
• Flowers bloom from May to June and are typically born on either male or female trees, but some trees produce both types of flowers. Furthermore, the sexual expression of a tree may vary from year to year.
• Fruit shape varies between varieties, but is typically spherical, or slightly square with an indented stem and four sepals. It is 7–10 cm in diameter and has a smooth, shiny skin that is typically orange in colour. The fruit can be very astringent if not ripened under the right conditions.