Common Name:

General Information

Vitex gardneriana is a deciduous tree with a small crown; it can grow 6 - 7 metes tall[]. The slightly crooked bole can be 15 - 25cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its wood.
Vitex gardneriana has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northeastern Brazil.

Habitat

Margins of the dry forest areas of northeast Brazil, and banks of periodically dry streams[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the 'Caatinga' dry forest region of northeast Brazil. The climate is hot and dry, there are usually 6 to 11 months without rain each year. The mean annual rainfall varies from 250 - 1,000mm, and the mean annual temperature is from 24 - 26°c.
Prefers a sunny position[].
Newly planted young trees grow away quite slowly[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is moderately heavy, straight-grained, of medium texture, easy to cut but with a low resistance to rot[]. It is used for stakes, posts and tool handles[].
We have no more 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[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed[]. Germination rates are usually low, with the seed sprouting within 3 - 4 months[]. Seedlings grow away quite slowly.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 6 add another 6 is?