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Useful Tropical Plants

Vitex orinocensis

Kunth

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Vitex multiflora Miq.

Common Name:

Vitex orinocensis
Flowers and leaves
Photograph by: A. Gentry
Creative Commons License

General Information

Vitex orinocensis is a shrub or tree, often with many trunks and an irregular, rounded crown; usually growing 8 - 18 metres tall. The bole can be 18 - 25cm in diameter[
650
Title
Phytologia Vol. 6
Publication
 
Author
Moldenke H.N. & Moldenke A.L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1957
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Vitex. It can be downloaded from the internet.
,
651
Title
Phytologia Vol. 51
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1982
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany.
].
The tree yields a timber and an edible fruit, which are used locally.
Vitex orinocensis 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

650
Title
Phytologia Vol. 6
Publication
 
Author
Moldenke H.N. & Moldenke A.L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1957
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Vitex. It can be downloaded from the internet.

Range

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitat

Light forests, the edges of woods, non-inundated land, savannahs, swampy places, granite, and the sides of streams at elevations up to 500 metres[
650
Title
Phytologia Vol. 6
Publication
 
Author
Moldenke H.N. & Moldenke A.L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1957
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Vitex. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height15.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[
651
Title
Phytologia Vol. 51
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1982
ISBN
 
Description
Various articles on botany.
]. A sweet flavour, but a rancid smell[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
]. The light green to yellow fruit is about 1cm long[
422
Title
Fruits of the Guianan Flora
Publication
 
Author
van Roosmalen. M.G.M.
Publisher
Institute of Systematic Boyany, Utrecht University; Netherlands.
Year
1985
ISBN
90-9000988-4
Description
Terse descriptions of over 1,700 species from the Guianas that bear fruits - not necessarily edible! Often mentions if the fruit is edible, plus gives brief description of habit and habitat.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is hard. It is used in construction[
650
Title
Phytologia Vol. 6
Publication
 
Author
Moldenke H.N. & Moldenke A.L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harold N. Moldenke and Alma L. Moldenke; New York
Year
1957
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Vitex. It can be downloaded from the internet.
].
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[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vitex+orinocensis>

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