Diospyros lycioides subsp. lycioides

A shrub 2-3 m in height, sometimes a small tree up to 7 m. Bark: dark grey, rather smooth. Leaves: spirally arranged, crowded at the tips of the branches, obovate to oblanceolate, 1.5-8 x 0.5-3 cm, usually about 5 x 1.2 cm, rather leathery, dull green or grey-green, with silky hairs when young, sometimes persisting on mature leaves, midrib and 5 or 6 pairs of lateral veins visible, their prominence depending on the subspecies; apex broadly tapering to rounded; base tapering; margin entire; petiole short but distinct, 0.3-1.5 cm long. Flowers: creamy white, 0.8-1.5 cm in diameter, sepals conspicuously long and slender, axillary, solitary, pendulous, on slender stalks up to 3 cm long, sweetly scented; floral parts in 5s (Sept.-Dec.). Fruit: broadly ovoid, up to 2 cm long, sharp-tipped, red, covered with short soft hairs when young but losing these, becoming hard and reddish brown to black, persistent calyx with 5 lobes up to 1 cm long, curving strongly backwards (Jan.-May, old fruit often remaining on the tree into the next flowering season). Seeds: 1-6, up to 1.3 cm long, brown, smooth.