Vitex glabrata
R. Br.
Black fruit, Black grape, Black-plum
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jean-Philippe BASUYAUX
Summary
Source: WikipediaVitex glabrata, commonly known as smooth chastetree, bush currant, black plum, black fruit, and black grape, is a species medium-sized deciduous tree in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Australia (Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland), Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India (including both the mainland and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Indonesia (most regions of Indonesia except Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia, Marianas, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea (including Bismarck Archipelago), Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Description
A moderate sized tree. It grows 7-12-25 m high. The crown is rounded. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are opposite and have 3 leaflets. The central leaflet is the longest. The leaflet blade is 4-18.5 cm long and 3-10 cm wide. Leaves are smooth and dark green on the upper surface. The leaf stalk can be 3-10 cm long. The flowers are cream with a purple throat. The are tube shaped and finely hairy. Flowers are 0.8-1 cm long. They occur on forked flower stalks which form flower arrangements 6-18 cm long by 10-18 cm wide. The fruit are smooth and round. They are 0.5-1.5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The calyx hangs on at the base. They are purple-black when ripe. They have 4 seeds in a hard shell.
Edible Uses
The very ripe fruit are eaten fresh, cooked, or sun-dried and stored.
Traditional Uses
The very ripe fruit are eaten. They can be cooked or sun dried and stored.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The root and bark are astringent. The bark is used as an anthelmintic and as a remedy for gastro-intestinal disorders.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal monsoon vine forests. It is often just above the beach on stable foreshores. It needs well drained soils. It grows up to 900 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Timor, USA,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Other Uses
The grey wood has a satiny lustre, it is moderately hard, close-grained and durable. Of good quality, it is used for house construction, furniture, cart-wheels and oars. The heartwood is light straw to light brown in colour; it is not clearly demarcated from the lighter coloured sapwood. The texture is moderately fine and even, the grain is straight or interlocked. The wood is moderately hard to hard, and moderately heavy to heavy. Most specimens are small trees and their wood of rather limited dimensions, this limits their use to mainly items such as tool handles, posts, turnery, carving, and fancy articles. The plant has been recommended for growing in tea plantations to provide shade and wood.
Other Information
The fruit are highly regarded. It is cultivated.
Notes
Also put in the family Verbenaceae.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 69.5 | 362 | 87 | 0.9 | — | 3 | 0.9 | 0.5 |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Ankurndalh, Ashal, Bandikari, Bhadu, Bhodiya, Bigbul, Bihbul, Gentileng, Inger, Jungli pyinma, Kaping-asing, Ketileng, Khai nao, Ki now, Laban ketileng tileng, Langathang-thang, Leban keling, Mak-lok-kaing, Mandjara, Meroko, Panameikli, Pani-amora, Pohon piteka halus, Serlung-baphang, Smooth chastetree, Tauksha, Tauk-kya, Wurnika, Yauru, Yoma wood
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