Persimmon (American Ebony)

Description

Persimmon, or American Ebony, is a native Texas tree that produces a somewhat tasty orange colored tomato shaped fruit. (Freeze the fruit first, then thaw and eat center portion with spoon. Otherwise its bitter and nasty.) Persimmon lumber typically includes very wide sapwood, with a small core of dark heartwood. When freshly cut, sapwood is creamy white and darkens to a yellow or grayish brown. The heartwood ranges from brown to black, though orange streaks are sometimes present. Persimmon wood is extremely hard.