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Vitex rotundifolia L.f.
| Family Name: | Lamiaceae (Labiatae) |
| Synonyms: | Vitex trifolia var. obovata |
| Common Name: | Round-Leaved Chaste Tree, Single-Leaf Chastetree |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Presumed Nationally Extinct (NEx)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A small erect shrub, growing to about 60 cm tall, sometimes form dense mats, rooting at the nodes. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are round to obovate, base cuneate, apex mostly rounded, margin entire, upper surface green, lower surface pale green to silvery. |
| Flowers | Inflorescence can be axillary or terminal, paniculate consisting of cymes in dense clusters. Corolla is 5-lobed, purplish blue to white. |
| Fruit | Globose, smooth surface, turning purplish then black when mature. Seeds 4 per fruit. |
| Habitat | Grows along beaches, on sandy seashores and coastal dunes. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Coastal |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Rounded |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary, Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Flowering Calendar | Jan, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1256 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2549 |
| 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. |
