Vitex madiensis

Vitex madiensis is a tree reaching 4 m in height and spread, growing at a medium rate. It grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, suited to mildly acid and neutral pH. The tree requires full sun and prefers moist soil. Bee-pollinated flowers appear on this species. It is hardy to UK zone 10.

Description

A woody herb or shrub. It grows to 2 m tall. It spreads to about 1 m across. This grows from a large underground rootstock. In the savannah it grows to 4-7 m high. The stems can be dark red-purple with dense red brown hairs but become smooth with age. The leaves usually have 1-3 leaflets. These have a fragrant smell when crushed. Normally 3 leaves arise together. They are fairly stiff leaves. The shape of the leaves varies but they can be 25 cm long. The edge of the leaves has teeth and the tip of the leaflets is pointed. The longest leaflet stalk is about 3 cm long. The main leaf stalk is 5-15 cm long. The flowers have a scent. They occur in loose heads on a stalk 4-12 cm long. Each tiny flower is pink-white with violet-blue lobes. There are hairs on the flower stalk. The fruit is oblong and about 2.5 cm long by 1-2 cm across. They are shiny green with white spots. The fruit become black on ripening. They contain 3 seeds. The outer case of the flower bud forms a toothed cup around the base of the fruit. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is sweet and mealy, with thin pulp that clings to the stone, which contains 3 to 4 seeds. The purple-black fruit is roughly the size of an olive — oblong and rounded, about 25 mm long and 10–20 mm wide.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. Fruit can be dried and stored. The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The leaves and roots have medicinal uses. Bark extracts are applied in the treatment of skin diseases and toothache.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in drier regions in Africa. It grows in grassland, open woodland and forest. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed is sown directly where it is to grow. Seed is collected from ripe fruit by drying then shalin off the dry flesh. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Propagation

Propagated by seed.

Other Uses

The leaves yield an essential oil of such sweet and penetrating fragrance that it has been recommended for commercial development. Branches are used as chew sticks for maintaining the health of teeth and gums. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Other Information

The fruit are delicious and liked. They are especially eaten by children.

Notes

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Anhongore, Azeitona-pequeno, Azeitona, Boumehi, Budeg keboke, Bugua, Bume-aincaobe, Bume, Cetona-pequena, Cetona, Ekarukei, Ekwarukei, Ewelu, Intompinha, Kifulu, Koro, Koronifing, Kukukunkuri, Kuo, Mangua, Mfilu a londe, Muni, Murukukwe, N'ssogorro, Odoandri, Oyelo gwok, Oyelu, Oywelo too

References (30)

• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 5. Kew.
• Catarino, L., et al, 2016, Ecological data in support of an analysis of Guinea-Bissau's medicinal flora. Data in Brief 7 (2016):1078-1097
• Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 207
• Diarra, N. et al, 2016, Etude ethnobotanique des plantes alimentaires utilisées en période de soudure dans les régions Sud du Mali. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 10(1): 184-197
• Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 43

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