Kari mara – Ebony

Kari mara (Diospyros ebenum Koenig) one of the native trees in Kodagu which grows very slowly up to 20–25 metres tall.A famous timber tree, valued for its black wood for thousands of years.This species is said to produce the best commercial black ebony.

Kodava

Karimara

English

Ebony

Kannada

Bale mara

Botanical Name

Diospyros ebenum Koenig

Family

EBENACEAE

Uses

The gummy astringent fruits are used as a medicine and eaten in times of famine. The fruits are also used as fish poison. The tree is said to produce the best commercial black ebony. It is mainly exported to China for furniture and to Europe as fancy wood.

The long stem is carved to make the sacred gejje thand for Kodavas