Diospyros tessellaria

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Diospyros tessellaria
Diospyros tessellaria - foliage of bois d ebene noir - Monvert.jpg
Foliage of Mauritian ebony - Monvert Nature Park
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ebenaceae
Genus: Diospyros
Species:
D. tessellaria
Binomial name
Diospyros tessellaria
Poir.

Diospyros tessellaria (black ebony, bois d'ebene noir or Mauritian ebony) is a species of tree in the family Ebenaceae.

Contents

The tree is one of several ebony species endemic to the island of Mauritius in the western Indian Ocean, and was once the most common, widespread ebony species of that island.

Description

Sign at the foot of a young Mauritian ebony at Monvert gardens Diospyros tessellaria - sign of bois d ebene noir - Monvert.jpg
Sign at the foot of a young Mauritian ebony at Monvert gardens
Seedlings in cultivation at Ferney Z Bois d Ebene Noir - Diospyros tesselaria seedlings - Ferney nursery.jpg
Seedlings in cultivation at Ferney

The massive, slow-growing, tree can reach up to 20 metres (66 ft) in height. Mature trees can have trunks of over a meter in diameter (However, this species is slow growing and was heavily harvested for timber in the past, so the largest specimens still remaining have trunks of only around 50 cm diameter).

The thick leaves have a dark green surface and a slightly paler underside. A distinctive feature is that the leaf margins and veins are mildly translucent, when held up to the light.

They produce small, white, fragrant flowers and fleshy fruits. [2]

History

Like other species of ebony trees, Mauritian ebony trees yield a dark black ebony wood. In its natural habitat, it was a massive canopy tree - common in the dry and upland wet forests of the island.

Exploitation by the Dutch

Vice-Admiral Wybrandt van Warwijck landed on Mauritius on September 17, 1598, thus beginning Dutch involvement with the island. In 1638, settlers from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) attempted to colonize the island and set up an organized ebony business to sell the rare black wood. However, due to issues with cyclones destroying the settlement, rats destroying crops, settlers illegally trading with English ships, and slaves revolting commonly, the Dutch left the island in 1710. [3]

Ebony as a British Import

After the French settled Mauritius in 1721, the British took over the island and Port Louis in 1810. Not only was Mauritius used as a stopping point for ships traveling to British India and other parts of Asia, but now it was also used as a major exporter of goods back to London. While the most popular good from Mauritius was sugar by far, the British did harvest a large portion of the ebony forests. The wood was presumably used for carving and decor in London.

This species is one of eleven surviving species of Ebony tree which naturally occur on Mauritius - all of them endemic.

Related Research Articles

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Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus Diospyros, which also includes the persimmon tree. Few Diospyros species such as macassar and mun ebony are dense enough to sink in water. Ebony is finely textured and has a mirror finish when polished, making it valuable as an ornamental wood. It is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world.

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The Ebenaceae are a family of flowering plants belonging to order Ericales. The family includes ebony and persimmon among about 768 species of trees and shrubs. It is distributed across the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world. It is most diverse in the rainforests of Malesia, India, tropical Africa and tropical America.

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Diospyros is a genus of over 700 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The majority are native to the tropics, with only a few species extending into temperate regions. Individual species valued for their hard, heavy, dark timber, are commonly known as ebony trees, while others are valued for their fruit and known as persimmon trees. Some are useful as ornamentals and many are of local ecological importance. Species of this genus are generally dioecious, with separate male and female plants.

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<i>Diospyros mabacea</i> Species of tree

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<i>Cyphostemma mappia</i> Species of vine

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<i>Sideroxylon puberulum</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Diospyros revaughanii</i> Species of flowering plant

Diospyros revaughanii is a rare species of tree in the family Ebenaceae (ebony).

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<i>Diospyros egrettarum</i> Species of tree

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Diospyros leucomelas is a species of tree endemic to Mauritius.

<i>Diospyros paniculata</i> Species of plant

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References

  1. Page, W. (1998). "Diospyros tessellaria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 1998: e.T30552A9562531. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30552A9562531.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Ebony tree in Mauritius". Mauritius Uncovered.
  3. Stanford Department of Anthropology. "History". Mauritian Archaeology.