The
persimmon (sometimes spelled
persimon) is the edible
fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus
Diospyros.
Diospyros is in the family
Ebenaceae. The most widely cultivated species is the Oriental or Japanese persimmon,
Diospyros kaki. In color, the ripe fruit of the cultivated strains range from light
yellow-orange to dark
red-orange depending on the species and variety. They similarly vary in size from 1.5 to 9 cm (0.5 to 4 in) in diameter, and in shape the varieties may be spherical, acorn-, or pumpkin-shaped. The
calyx generally remains attached to the fruit after harvesting, but becomes easy to remove once the fruit is ripe. The ripe fruit has a high
glucose content. The protein content is low, but it has a balanced
protein profile. Persimmon fruits have been put to various medicinal and chemical uses.