Vitex diversifolia

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 6 m high. The bark is dark grey and scaly. The leaves are not divided. They have a white covering when young. The flowers are in the axils of leaves and in groups 10-15 cm long. They are green with purple-violet sepals. The fruit is oval. It is 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. It is green with white dots. It has 3 seeds. Now Vitex madiensis subsp. madiensis

Also put in the family Verbenaceae. Vitex diversifolia Baker is a synonym of Vitex madiensis subsp. madiensis Vitex diversifolia Kurz is an Asian species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the Sahel near groundwater. It grows in the Africa savannah. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sudan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit have a thin edible pulp.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Vitex simplicifolia Oliv.; Vitex vogelii Baker;