|
|
 60 persimmons DHJanzen100309.jpg high resolution
|
|
| Wild persimmons (Diospyros, Ebenaceae) hang on the tree in the eastern US during the last part of summer, juicy but inedible (and ignored by animals). After the first hard frost, they are suddenly very desired and eaten by many wild animals (e.g., possums, racoons, foxes, crows, jays), dispersing the seeds in their feces. What changed with the hard frost? In some manner unknown to me, the tannins that were in vacuoles in the fruit pulp - and there ready to attack the tongues and throats of any animal - are released and bind with other fruit tissues, rendering them inactive. These two Japanese commercial persimmons, purchased from a street vendor in New York city, are both seedless and been bred to have the tannins bind onto the fruit tissues during the ripening process without a frost. | ||
back to lecture slides
or skip to: