Back
Vitex trifolia
| Family Name: | Lamiaceae (Labiatae) |
| Common Name: | Simpleleaf Chastetree, Common Blue Vitex, Legundi, Lenggundi, Lagundi, Lemuning, Muning, Demundi, 蔓荆 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southeast Asia, China, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Pacific Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial, Shoreline (Sandy Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large-sized shrub, able to grow up to about 3 - 8 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Compound leaves, opposite arrangement, each leaf consists of 3 - 5 elliptical leaflets about 3 - 12 cm long, underneath of leaf surface is covered with white hairs. |
| Stems | Bark is smooth and light grey to brown. |
| Flowers | Purple to purplish-blue flowers borne in on a panicle inflorescence up to 18 cm long, corolla of each flower about 0.5 mm long and 5-lobed. |
| Fruit | Fruit is fleshy, turns black when ripen, globose to ovoid in shape, measuring about 0.5 - 0.7 cm wide, contains 4 black seeds. |
| Etymology | Genus Vitex is the Latin name used by Plinius for the chaste tree. Species trifolia means with three leaflets. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting, Bee-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Black |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1254 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2547 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
