Vitex triflora

Vahl.

Lamiaceae Edible: Fruit 38 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Vitex triflora is a species of tree in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Panama and South America.

Description

A tree. It grows 13 m tall. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalk is 2-6 cm long but the leaflets only have small stalks. The flower panicles are 4-11 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. There are usually 3 flowers in the group. The fruit is fleshy and narrowly oval. It is 1.4 cm long by 0.8 cm wide. It has a brown or yellow coating. The pulp is slimy and edible. The seed is large.

Edible Uses

The sweet fruit pulp is edible.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sweet.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forest near marshes and in common on granite.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela,

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.

Notes

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Also Known As

Ama uva, Basi-oedoe, Boskalebas, Cormillon, Hakiaballi, Kalebashout, Krabasi-oedoe, Mama-de-cacheiro, Paliperro, Waranshikuai

References (8)

Bendezu, Y. F., 2018, Arboles nativos de lad Region Ucayali. Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria. p 160
Flores, Y., 2018, Arboles nativos de la Region Ucayili. Estacion Experimental Agragia Pucallpa. Pucallpa Peru, 375 p. p 160
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 695
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 919
Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 40

Show all 8 references

Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Sp. pl. 2:638. 1753
Spichiger, R., et al, 1990, Contribucion a la Flora de la Amazonia Peruana. Boissiera 44. p 476