- Vitex trifolia
Taxobox
name = "Simpleleaf chastetree"
image_width = 300px
image_caption = leaves, seeds (left), flowers (right)
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Lamiales
familia =Lamiaceae
genus = "Vitex "
species = "V. trifolia"
binomial = "Vitex trifolia""Vitex trifolia" (Simpleleaf chastetree) is a large coastal
shrub or smalltree .Description
"Vitex trifolia" is a large coastal
shrub or smalltree , less that 5 m in height with the stems covered by soft hairs (tomentose). The leaves are oppositely arranged along the stems and are usually compound, composed of 3 linear leaflets which range between 1 -12 cm in length. The upper surface of the leaves are green and the lower surface grayish green.The flowers are born in
panicles or clusters up to 18 cm in length. Individual flowers have purple to violet two-lipped corollas that are approximately 5 mm long. Thestamen are in two pairs and the ovary is superior, or develops above the corolla. The fleshy fruits are about 6 mm in diameter and contain 4 small black seeds.Distribution
Vitex trifolia is naturally found along coastlines from tropical East
Africa as far east asFrench Polynesia .Medicinal Uses
The leaves are used to treat female ailments in the
Cook Islands , and used to relievefever inSamoa . Additionally in Samoa, the dried leaves are burned to determosquito s.Indigenous Names
*
Cook Islands - rara
*Tonga - lalatahi
*Samoa - namulegaReferences
[http://www.ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php Details on Vitex trifolia]
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