Cymose chaste tree
Vitex cymosa

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-20 m high. The crown has a lot of leaves. The trunk is short and 50-90 cm across. The leaves are compound with leaflets spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaf stalks are 6-8 cm long. There are 5-7 leaflets of unequal size. The 2 near the base are smaller and 4-7 cm long while the others are 8-12 cm long. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are in groups 3-6 cm long and are purple. The fruit is round and fleshy. It is red or purple when ripe. It only has one seed.

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in gallery forest in the Amazon in central Brazil. It grows in tropical lowlands. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, South America, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for marmalade. The flowers are used to make tea.

The fruit are not particularly popular. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and put into plastic bags until they soften. The seeds are removed and washed under running water. Fresh seed are planted and they germinate in 60-70 days.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Aceituno, Chutu, Guayacan pechiche, Jaramantaia, Pichichik, Taruma Guazu, Tarumeiro, Taruma-do-alagado, Taruma-guacu, Titinim, Ullunchi, Zaruma

Synonyms

Jatropha tomentosa Spreng.; Vitex cujabensis Mart. ex Benth.; Vitex discolor Glaz.;