{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{speciesbox |image = Malabar Ebony.jpg |image_alt = |image_caption = Foliage and flowers |genus = Diospyros |species = malabarica |authority = (Desr.) Kostel. |synonyms = * ''D. biflora'' <small>Blanco</small> * ''D. citrifolia'' <small>Wall. ex A.DC.</small> * ''D. embryopteris'' <small>Pers. [Illegitimate]</small> * ''D. glutinifera'' <small>(Roxb.) Wall.</small> * ''D. glutinosa'' <small>J.König ex Roxb.</small> * ''D. malabarica'' var. ''siamensis'' <small>(Hochr.) Phengklai</small> * ''D. peregrina'' <small>(Gaertn.) Gürke</small> * ''D. peregrina'' f. ''javanica'' <small>Kosterm.</small> * ''D. siamensis'' <small>Hochr.</small> * ''Embryopteris gelatinifera'' <small>G.Don</small> * ''Embryopteris glutinifera'' <small>Roxb.</small> * ''Embryopteris glutinifolia'' <small>Link</small> * ''Embryopteris peregrina'' <small>Gaertn.</small> }}
'''''Diospyros malabarica''''', the '''gaub tree''', '''Malabar ebony''', '''black-and-white ebony''' or '''pale moon ebony''', is a species of flowering tree in the family Ebenaceae that is native to the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia.
It is a long-lived, very slow-growing tree, which can reach up to 35 m in height with a black trunk up to 70 cm in diameter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=5464 |title=FAO - Malabar ebony |access-date=2011-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329080136/http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id=5464 |archive-date=2012-03-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is an evergreen tree with white or green flowers. The tree is found in lowland rainforests, primarily along rivers and streams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Diospyros malabarica Indian Persimmon, Gaub, Timbiri, Mountain ebony PFAF Plant Database|url=https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Diospyros+malabarica|access-date=2021-11-05|website=pfaf.org}}</ref>
==Fruit== thumb|Ripe Diospyros malabarica fruits on a plate, a tropical species native to South Asia and commonly found in Bangladesh. thumb|River Ebony leaves Bengaluru
The fruits are round, and yellow when ripe. It may be somewhat often astringent, even when ripe. Its common name is derived from the coast of southwestern India, Malabar. It is the provincial tree of Ang Thong Province in Thailand.
==Uses== Both the bark of the tree and the unripe fruit have medicinal uses in Ayurveda. This tree was mentioned as ''Tinduka'' by Sanskrit writers.<ref>[http://www.flowersofindia.in/catalog/slides/Gaub.html Rajendra Shinde in Flowers of India]</ref>
Unripe leaves and fruits were traditionally used to dye cloth black.
The wood is sometimes used in guitar and high-end furniture manufacturing for its distinctive black striped on off-white to golden beige background appearance. Trade names for timber and wooden products are "Pale moon ebony", "Royal white ebony" and "Black and white ebony". left|thumb|5 pcs of Diospyros malabarica veneer sheets. Size is 250*120*2 mm. These veneers are sawcut at a bandsaw then sanded.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79853:diospyros-malabarica-desr-kostel-var-malabarica&catid=368:d Diospyros malabarica (Desr.) Kostel. var. malabarica] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111009021758/http://ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com/plants/2101.html Diospyros malabarica - Ayurvedic medicinal plants]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3595461}}
malabarica Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Plant dyes