{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{speciesbox |name = Date-plum |image = Diospyros_lotus_01.jpg |image_caption = Branches with fruit |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Puglisi, C. |author2=Schmidt, H. |year=2023 |title=''Diospyros lotus'' |article-number=e.T63524A3126366 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T63524A3126366.en}}</ref> |genus = Diospyros |species = lotus |authority = L.<ref name=POWO>{{cite POWO |title=''Diospyros lotus'' |id=322629-1 |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref> |synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO/> |synonyms={{Species list|hidden=yes|header=11 Synonyms |Dactylus trapezuntinus|Forssk. (1775) |Diospyros calycina|Dippel (1889) |D. lotus var. angustifolia|Gaudin (1830) |D. lotus f. ellipsoidea|Makino (1912) |D. lotus f. globosa|Makino (1912) |D. lotus var. laevis|H.Ohba & S.Akiyama (2016) |D. lotus f. longifolia|Zhang (1983) |D. lotus var. mollissima|C.Y.Wu (1965) |D. lotus f. ovoidea|Makino (1912) |D. mediterranea|Oken (1841) |D. umlovok|Griff. (1848) }} }}
The '''date-plum''' ('''''Diospyros lotus'''''), also known by the common names '''Caucasian persimmon''' and '''lilac persimmon''', is a widely cultivated species of the genus ''Diospyros'', native to temperate Asia and southeast Europe. Its English name derives from the small fruit, which have a taste reminiscent of both plums and dates. It is among the oldest plants in cultivation.
== Distribution and ecology ==
The species area extends from East Asia to the west of the Mediterranean, down to Spain. The date-plum is native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia. It was known to the ancient Greeks as "God's fruit" ({{lang|grc|{{linktext|Διός}} {{linktext|πυρός}}}}, {{grc-transl|Διός πυρός}}), hence the scientific name of the genus. Its English name probably derives from Persian ''Khormaloo'' خرمالو literally "date-plum", referring to the taste of this fruit which is reminiscent of both plums and dates. The fruit is called ''Amlok'' املوک in Pakistan and consumed dried. This species is one candidate for the "lotus tree" mentioned in ''The Odyssey'': it was so delicious that those who ate it forgot about returning home and wanted to stay and eat lotus with the lotus-eaters.<ref>{{cite book |url = https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727 |title = The Odyssey |author = Homer |page = 76 |publisher = Project Gutenberg |date = |access-date = 2007-10-13 }}</ref>
The tree grows in the lower and middle mountain zones in the Caucasus. They usually grow up to {{cvt|600|m}} above sea level. In Central Asia, it rises higher—up to {{cvt|2000|m}}. They rarely grow in stands but often grow with hackberry, ash, maple and other deciduous species. It is not demanding on the soil and can grow on rocky slopes but requires a well lit environment.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}
It is cultivated at the limits of its range, as well as in the U.S. and North Africa.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}
== Biological description == This is a tree of height {{cvt|15–30|m}} with sloughing of aging bark. The tree will commonly stop growing at {{cvt|15|m}}, it grows slowly and will spread in a horizontal direction as it matures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://farmplasticsupply.com/blog/date-plums|title=Date Plums: History, Info, and Description|website=Farm Plastic Supply|location=Addison, Illinois|language=en-us|access-date=2024-11-03}}</ref>
The leaves are shiny, leathery, oval-shaped with pointed ends, {{cvt|5–15|cm}} long and {{cvt|3–6|cm}} in width.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Mehdiyeva |first=Naiba P. |title=Diospyros lotus L. Ebenaceae |date=2017 |work=Ethnobotany of the Caucasus |pages=265–269 |url=https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-319-49412-8_130 |access-date=2025-11-18 |publisher=Springer, Cham |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-49412-8_130 |isbn=978-3-319-49412-8 |last2=Alizade |first2=Valida M. |last3=Batsatsashvili |first3=Ketevan |last4=Fayvush |first4=George |last5=Kikvidze |first5=Zaal |last6=Khutsishvili |first6=Manana |last7=Maisaia |first7=Inesa |last8=Sikharulidze |first8=Shalva |last9=Tchelidze |first9=David|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The flowers are small, greenish, appearing in June to July. The plant is dioecious, and so obviously not self-fertile.
Fruits are berries with juicy flesh, yellow when ripe, {{cvt|1–2|cm}} in diameter.<ref name=":0" /> Seeds with thin skin and a very hard endosperm. Fruits ripen October to November.<ref name=":0" />
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px"> File:Diospyros_lotus_02.jpg|Fruit File:K%C3%BC%C3%A7%C3%BCk_meyveli_Trabzon_hurmas%C4%B1.JPG|Leaves File:Diospyros_lotus1.jpg|Trunk </gallery>
== Usage == Caucasian persimmon fruits are edible and contain much sugar, malic acid, and vitamins. They are used as fresh fruits or after frost, but usually dried. Drying and frost destroy their tartness.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q771101}}
lotus Category:Edible fruits Category:Trees of Europe Category:Flora of temperate Asia Category:Plants described in 1753