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Australian Ebony

The Greek "dios" means divine or god-like, and "pyros" means wheat, a reference to the fruit of the gods, as some of the members of the genus have tasty fruit.

A small shrub-like tree with a height of 11 m.

It also flowers and fruits as a shrub. Very dark, mottled grey to black bark on the trunk/body of the tree.

Leaves

Thick leathery leaves 7 - 9 cm long.

Fruits/Seeds

Produces berries that become red when ripe. Fruiting occurs twice a year January – May and October - December.

Field Guide

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  • Species Category: Plants
  • Species origin: Native
  • Conservation status: Common
  • Did You Know?
    • Anindilyakwa people believe that evil spirits which kill people climb this tree, they also note that birds eat the fruit (Levitt 1981)
    • Fruit, eaten by some Aboriginal people when ripe, has a floury texture

  • What to Observe

    • Healthy or unhealthy trees

    • Presence of berries (ripe or unripe)

    Climate Adaptations

    We expect to see signs of stress and dieback in relation to climate change warming and drying their environments. The timing and patterns of fruiting are also likely to change.

  • When and Where

    When To Look

    • Flowers during February, October and November
    • Fruits produced from January to May and October to December

    Where To Look

    • Found in mangrove habitats, and toward the fresh water of tidal creeks

  • What Else?

    Similar Species

    Black Ebony (Diospyros humilis) is similar in appearance, however can be distinguished by its smaller and more bladed leaves. Dead bark is often quite dark, almost black and layered with brown brittle stripes in the blaze.
  • Trails: Darwin East Point Reserve NT
  • Species Region: Australia