Vitex: Chastetrees

This genus of more than 250 species is widely distributed in most tropical or subtropical regions of the world. Several species are grown as ornamentals, while others are valued for lumber; two have naturalized in southern parts of the U.S. Deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs. Leaf Opposite, palmately compounds; 3–9 leaflets with margins entire, toothed, or lobed. flower Usually perfect, more or less bilateral, small, white, blue, or yellowish, borne in loose to dense racemes or spikes. Sepals 5, joined into a 5-toothed cup or tube; petals joined into a tube that extends beyond the calyx, flared into 5 lobes; stamens 4; ovary superior, 4-chambered, stigma 2-lobed. fruit Drupe.

Lilac Chastetree Vitex agnuscastus

L.a.k.a. Common Chastetree, Hemptree - The combination of the opposite, palmately 5-parted leaves, showy terminal racemes of often lavender flowers, and strongly aromatic foliage distinguishes Lilac Chastetree. Strongly aromatic deciduous shrub or small tree to about 7 m tall, 10 cm diam., with 1 or several erect trunks; crown rounded, dense. bark Reddish-brown or brown, smooth on young trunks, becoming finely fissured and scaly. twig Foursided, densely hairy. leaf Opposite, palmately compound; leaflets 3–9, usually 5, thin, about 10 cm long and 3 cm broad, lanceolate, tapering to a sharp tip, margins entire or rarely toothed. Upper surface dull green, hairless, moderately lustrous; lower surface grayish-green, finely hairy. Petiole is 1.5–7.5 cm long. flower About 1 cm long, corolla lavender, blue, or white; borne in erect terminal clusters 12–18 cm long. Apr.–Oct. fruit Round, dry, hard drupe containing a 4-chambered stone.

HABITAT /RANGE Introduced from Eurasia; sporadically escaped from cultivation and occasionally naturalized on roadsides, ditch banks, waste places, 0–1,200 m; Tex. eastward. Similar species The leaves of other naturalized species of Vitex have 3 or fewer leaflets. The palmate leaves of buckeyes (Aesculus, Sapindaceae) are much larger, with broader leaflets, and the fruits are large capsules with 1 to few large round seeds. Notes In the species’ native area its twigs were sometimes used in basketwork. The leaves resemble those of hemp (Cannabis). The fruits were once substituted for pepper, and the plants have been called Indian Spice, Monk’s Pepper, and Wild Peppertree. The white-flowered form has long been considered a symbol of chastity.

Chinese Chastetree Vitex negundo

L. Deciduous large shrub or small tree to 5 m tall. Leaf Opposite, palmately compounds; leaflets usually 3 (sometimes 5), to 11 cm long and about 4 cm broad, lanceolate, margins toothed. Flower About 3 mm long, 7 mm wide, violet, purple, or bluish; inflorescence to 42 cm long, 15 cm wide. HABITAT /RANGE Introduced from China; sporadically escaped from cultivation, 0–100 m; s. Tex. east to Fla.