Vitex stahelii
Moldenke
Stahel chastetree
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) coqwallon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by coqwallon
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) coqwallon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A tree. It grows 45 m high. The trunk is 30-60 cm across. There are spur roots near the base. The leaves are opposite. The leaves have 5 leaflets. They are arranged like fingers on hand. The leaf stalks are 5-13 cm long. The flower panicles are 2-5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The fruit is round and fleshy. It is 1.7 cm across. It is green and turns reddish with green dots. The pulp is edible. The covering of the nut is 1.2 cm long by 1 cm wide and has grooves along it.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. Juicy, with a sweet flavour. The globose fruit is green to reddish to black; about 17mm in diameter.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in upland rainforest.
Where It Grows
Guianas, Guyana, South America, Suriname, Venezuela,
Cultivation
Plants are grown by seeds.
Other Uses
We have no information on the wood for this species. However, we have a general description for the wood of S. American species of this genus, which is as follows:- The heartwood is variable according to the species, ranging from yellowish-brown through deep brown, olive-green or olive-brown; it is usually not sharply demarcated from the whitish, yellow, or pale brown sapwood. The texture is rather fine to moderately coarse; the grain straight, sometimes irregular; lustre ranges from low to high; there is no distinctive odour or taste. A silica content of 0.76% is reported. Depending on the species, durability varies from moderately durable to very durable when exposed to a white-rot and brown-rot fungus. Actual field exposures show some species as durable and others as susceptible to attack by decay fungi and insects. Reports are also variable on seasoning, material from Panama had a moderate drying rate and no appreciable defects. The wood is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though there is some tearing if grain is irregular; it takes a high polish. It is used for purposes such as furniture, millwork, veneer and plywood, general carpentry, mallet heads, chisel handles and flooring.
Production
In Guyana it flowers March to April and fruits May to July.
Notes
Also put in the family Verbenaceae.
Also Known As
Hakiaballi, Kalebashout, Krabasi-oedoe, Malocopessi, Totumillo, Totumillo morado
References (3)
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 695
- Polak, A. M., 1992, Major Timber Trees of Guyana. A Field Guide. Tropenbos Series 2. Wageningen. p 201
- van Roosmalen, M.G.M., 1985, Fruits of the Guianan Flora. Utrecht Univ. & Wageningen Univ. p 432
