Ekarukei, Murukukwe
Vitex madiensis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

Found in tropical Africa, Vitex madiensis is a shrub or small tree about 5 m tall with a massive underground woody rootstock. The fruits, oblong to round and purple-black, are edible with a sweet flavor. The leaves and roots have medicinal uses but no further details are mentioned in the report. Bark extracts are used in the treatment of skin diseases and toothache. Essential oil from the leaves has a sweet and penetrating fragrance. The branches are used as chew sticks for teeth and gums. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Vitex madiensis is a TREE growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 4

Where it is found

Combretum, Terminalia and Brachystegia woodland and flood pans with Brachystegia; grassland, wooded grassland or dense woodlands; at elevations from 1,000 - 1,800 metres.

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Somalia, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Burkina Faso; Benin; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea-Bissau; Guinea; Côte d'Ivoire; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Burundi; Angola; Central African Republic; Cameroon; Congo; Gabon; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Chad; Somalia; Sudan; South Sudan;

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet and mealy. The thin pulp clings to the stone, which contains 3 to 4 seeds. The purple-black fruit is about the size of an olive. The oblong-rounded fruit is about 25mm long and 10 - 20mm wide.

Oil: Oil

Medicine

Rating: 2

The leaves and roots have medicinal uses. Bark extracts are used in the treatment of skin diseases and toothache.

Odontalgic: Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Other

Rating: 3

Other Uses The leaves yield an essential oil of such sweet and penetrating fragrance that it has been recommended for commercial development. The branches are used as chew sticks for maintaining the health of teeth and gums. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Charcoal: Used for fuel, drawing, deodorant, filter, fertilizer etc.

Cosmetic: Used to improve the physical appearence of a person.

Fuel: Usually wood, plant materials that have been mentioned as being a good fuel.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed -

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

ekarukei, murukukwe, odoandri, oyelo gwok.

Synonyms

Vitex bakeri B.L.Rob. Vitex barbata Planch. ex Baker Vitex camporum B?ttner Vitex cordata Aubr?v. Vi