Vitex zanzibarensis
Family: Lamiaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 16 m high. The trunk is crooked and branched. The bark is yellow-brown. There are cracks along it. The leaves are 3-5 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaf stalk are 2-9 cm long. It can have wings. The leaf blade is 3-13 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. They are sword shaped and wedge shaped at the base. The leaves have gland dots above. The flowers are blue to purple. They have scent. They are in hairy groups. They can be at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and blue to purple. They are about 1 cm across. The juice is dark blue.
Also put in the family Verbenaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, East Africa, Tanzania
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Mfuu