Diospyros mespiliformis, the jackal-berry

The bushveld is a prettier place due to the presence of jackal-berry trees. They exceed most of the surrounding vegetation in height, are sought by shade-seekers on hot days.

Diospyros mespiliformis acquired the jackal-berry name from its seeds found in jackal dung. People also eat the fresh fruit of D. mespiliformis and brew beer or make fruit preserves of them. There is a butterfly that uses the tree as larval food. Leaves, twigs and bark of the jackal-berry have long found their way into the medicine chests of traditional healers.

African ebony, another name noted for the tree, is known for its dark hardwood, used as a general purpose timber. Traditionally the wood was used to make mortars or stamping blocks and pestles for grinding grains. Dugout canoes or makoros for punting along the African rivers and lakes were often made of African ebony.

Ebony from India and Sri Lanka is obtained from another Diospyros tree, viz. D. ebenum (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Grant and Thomas, 2001; Venter and Venter, 1996; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).