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Glite Dictionary
Diospyros virginiana

Diospyros virginiana

9.9
A medium-sized tree that makes orange fruit that becomes sweet when ripe
  • noun
  • /ˌdaɪəˈspɪrəs vɜrˈdʒɪniənə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Diospyros virginiana
  • The fruit of the Diospyros virginiana is sweet and edible when it fully ripens.

Examples

  • The Diospyros virginiana tree produces sweet fruit in late autumn.

  • Several Diospyros virginiana trees grow along the edge of the old pasture.

  • Native Americans traditionally used the wood and fruit of Diospyros virginiana for various purposes.

  • Have you ever tasted a Diospyros virginiana fruit?

  • The fruit of the Diospyros virginiana is sweet and edible when it fully ripens.

  • Several Diospyros virginiana trees grow along the edge of the old pasture.

  • Native Americans traditionally used the wood and fruit of Diospyros virginiana for various purposes.

Synonyms

American persimmon
vsDiospyros virginiana
  • US
8.6

A medium tree from eastern and southern United States that makes orange fruit that are sour until fully ripe

is the formal scientific name used by botanists instead of the common name
possumwood
vsDiospyros virginiana
  • US
9.9

A medium-sized tree in dry southern and eastern United States woodlands with yellow-orange fruit tasting dry and bitter until ripe

is the general species description not restricted to dry woodland habitats

Surface Forms

Diospyros virginiana singular
Diospyros virginianas plural

Morphology

Diospyros + virginiana

This is a standard Latin binomial composed of the genus name 'Diospyros' and the specific epithet 'virginiana' meaning 'from Virginia', so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it denotes the Diospyros species originating from Virginia (the American persimmon). Botanical nomenclature is regular and compositional across languages, making the meaning directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Diospyros virginiana gets its name from old words: Diospyros comes from Greek meaning 'divine fruit' and virginiana shows it is 'from Virginia' in the United States. So the name helps you remember it is the American persimmon tree, a tree with a sweet fruit when it ripens.