Polygamous chastetree
Vitex polygama

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can lose all its leaves during the year. Trees grow 6-12 m tall. The leaves are compound having leaflets like the fingers on a hand. There are 5 leaflets with short stalks. They have hairs on both surfaces. They are 10-18 cm long. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are pale blue. The fruit are round and hairy. They are black to violet.

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in the savannas and semi-deciduous forests in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

The fruit are not very popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Azetona-do-campo, Jaruman, Mama-de-cachoiro, Mameira, Maria-preta, Taruma, Taruma-bori, Taruma-do-cerrado, Taruma-tuira, Velame-do-campo

Synonyms

Casarettoa mollissima Walp.; Vitex laciniosa Turcz.; Vitex polygama var. hirsuta Schauer; Vitex polygama var. holosericea Schauer;