Rough-leaved vitex
Vitex madiensis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A woody herb or shrub. It grows to 2 m tall. It spreads to about 1 m across. This grows from a large underground rootstock. In the savannah it grows to 4-7 m high. The stems can be dark red-purple with dense red brown hairs but become smooth with age. The leaves usually have 1-3 leaflets. These have a fragrant smell when crushed. Normally 3 leaves arise together. They are fairly stiff leaves. The shape of the leaves varies but they can be 25 cm long. The edge of the leaves has teeth and the tip of the leaflets is pointed. The longest leaflet stalk is about 3 cm long. The main leaf stalk is 5-15 cm long. The flowers have a scent. They occur in loose heads on a stalk 4-12 cm long. Each tiny flower is pink-white with violet-blue lobes. There are hairs on the flower stalk. The fruit is oblong and about 2.5 cm long by 1-2 cm across. They are shiny green with white spots. The fruit become black on ripening. They contain 3 seeds. The outer case of the flower bud forms a toothed cup around the base of the fruit. The fruit are edible.

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in drier regions in Africa. It grows in grassland, open woodland and forest. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, North Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. Fruit can be dried and stored. The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

The fruit are delicious and liked. They are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - tea, bark

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed is sown directly where it is to grow. Seed is collected from ripe fruit by drying then shalin off the dry flesh. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Its other names

Local names

Anhongore, Azeitona-pequeno, Azeitona, Boumehi, Budeg keboke, Bugua, Bume-aincaobe, Bume, Cetona-pequena, Cetona, Ekarukei, Ekwarukei, Ewelu, Intompinha, Kifulu, Koro, Koronifing, Kukukunkuri, Kuo, Mangua, Mfilu a londe, Muni, Murukukwe, N'ssogorro, Odoandri, Oyelo gwok, Oyelu, Oywelo too

Synonyms

Vitex camporum Buettner; Vitex cordata Aubrev.; Vitex barbata Planch.; Vitex pobeguinii; Vitex schweinfurthii Gurke; Vitex simplicifolia Oliv.; and others