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Persimmon.JPG

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

 

Interesting & key characteristics:

Habitat: Grows well with sandy or clay soil

Leaves: Leathery and dark green and have an average of a 4 inch length

Fruit: Buds and leaves are a food source for the deer, and other animals

Wood: Very strong and is used for golf club heads and handles

 

Unique benefits (how it helps our planet):

This tree provides persimmons for birds and fruit buds/ leaves for Missouri animals such as deer, bunnies and foxes. It also provides persimmons for humans which keep us refreshed and healthy.

 

Source: Missouri Trees By: J.E. Wylie and Ramon Gass 

 

The Story Behind the Tree:

A few years back, these persimmon trees were planted by Mr. Schimmelpfennig, Forsyth’s former Early Childhood Science Specialist, who gathered some seeds from a friend in U-City. He used to make persimmon pudding bars every year for his students to sample during class. However, only female trees produce the fruit so he had to plant three trees to make sure that at least one of them was female and that it produced fruit. Currently there are two males and one female persimmon tree.

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