Vitex madiensis
Oliv.
Lamiaceae
Vitex bakeri B.L.Rob.
Vitex barbata Planch. ex Baker
Vitex camporum Büttner
Vitex cordata Aubrév.
Vitex diversifolia Baker
Vitex epidictyodes Mildbr. ex W.Piep.
Vitex hockii De Wild.
Vitex milanjiensis Britten
Vitex pobeguinii Aubrév.
Vitex ringoetii De Wild.
Vitex schweinfurthii Baker
Vitex schweinfurthii Gürke
Vitex simplicifolia Oliv.
Vitex vogelii Baker
Common Name:
General Information
Vitex madiensis is a shrub or small tree reaching not much more than 5 metres tall[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. The plant sometimes has a more herbaceous habit, producing annual stems up to 1.5 metres long from a massive underground woody rootstock[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
The edible fruit is exceptionally popular within the plants native range - it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use and is also widely sold in local markets[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. An essential oil in the leaves has been recommended for commercial exploitation[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. Although not usually cultivated, the plant is often protected when land is cleared for cultivation[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Vitex madiensis 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)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Tropical Africa - Senegal to Somalia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Habitat
Combretum, Terminalia and Brachystegia woodland and flood pans with Brachystegia; grassland, wooded grassland or dense woodlands; at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Semi-cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. Sweet and mealy[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
]. The thin pulp clings to the stone, which contains 3 to 4 seeds[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. The purple-black fruit is about the size of an olive[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
]. The oblong-rounded fruit is about 25mm long and 10 - 20mm wide[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Medicinal
The leaves and roots have medicinal uses[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
].
Bark extracts are used in the treatment of skin diseases and toothache[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Other Uses
The leaves yield an essential oil of such sweet and penetrating fragrance that it has been recommended for commercial development[
323- Title
- Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3 Fruits.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- National Academy Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
- 030910596X
- Description
- Masses of information on about 70 species of plants that have been utilized as fruits in Africa.
].
The branches are used as chew sticks for maintaining the health of teeth and gums[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
398- Title
- Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B.
- Publisher
- Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 9966-896-60-0
- Description
- A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
