Diospyros simii leaves

The leaves of Diospyros simii are spirally arranged upon the stems, clustering near stem tips. Leaf shape is oblanceolate to obovate, i.e. while wider or narrower, the widest part is nearer the leaf tip than its base according to both descriptive terms. Leaves taper to both ends, more gradually towards the base and sometimes rounded at the tip.

The leaves are thinly leathery, dark glossy above, pale below and sometimes with a sparse covering of hairs. The midrib is conspicuous, the well spaced lateral veins that curve in and not reaching the margins, less so. Leaves become up to 6 cm long, their stalks 8 mm.

The tree produces solitary or small clusters of flowers on long stalks from leaf axils in winter or early spring. The (edible) fleshy berries are globose, up to 2 cm in diameter, velvety orange-brown in colour. The calyx persists; its long lobes don’t clasp the fruit (Coates Palgrave, 2002).