Vitex altissima.
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Scientific
Classification
Synonyms
Species ID: NMP-228;wfo-0000812243;NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 549680 Common
Names: peacock chaste tree, Hindi (selonphang,mayilai,balgay,balage,ashoi);
Nepali (tin-patte) Local
Names: Description Vitex
altissima is a
large tree that can reach up to 40 meters in height, featuring a dense crown.
The bark is greyish and becomes scaly with maturity. Leaves are trifoliolate or
palmate, compound, and opposite, with elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate leaflets
that have an acuminate apex and cuneate base. The leaf margins are serrate or
sometimes entire. The tree produces bluish-white flowers arranged in terminal
panicles, and the fruit is a purplish-black, four-seeded drupe. Distribution
and Habitat Vitex
altissima is native
to the Indomalayan realm, specifically Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar,
Sri Lanka, and New Guinea. It typically inhabits evergreen and deciduous
forests, thriving at elevations up to 1,200 meters. Medicinal
Properties Various
parts of Vitex altissima are utilized in traditional medicine:
Known
Toxicity There
are no widely reported toxic effects associated with Vitex altissima.
However, as with all medicinal plants, it is advisable to consult with
knowledgeable practitioners before any medicinal use. Additional
Information Beyond
its medicinal applications, Vitex altissima is valued for its timber.
The wood is heavy, hard, tough, close-grained, durable, and polishes well,
making it suitable for construction, cabinet making, furniture, turnery, and
cart making. Additionally, a yellow dye can be obtained from the wood, though
it is little used. References
External
Links
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| Compounds of Vitex altissima. | |
| References | Murtala Muhammad, Etal. (2023). Phytochemical analysis of Nigerian medicinal plants. NMPP-DB Project, Department of Biochemistry, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil |
