Peacock chaste tree | |
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inflorescences and trifoliolate leaves | |
upper side of palmate leaf | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Vitex |
Species: | V. altissima |
Binomial name | |
Vitex altissima L.f. |
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Synonyms | |
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Peacock chaste tree (Vitex altissima) is a species of woody plant reaching some 20 m in height, in the Lamiaceae family. It is native to countries of the Indo-Malaysian region, namely Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and Sri Lanka. Its greyish bark becomes scaly with maturity. The leaves are trifoliolate or palmate, compound and opposite. They are elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate in shape with acuminate apex and cuneate base. The margin is serrate or sometimes entire. The inflorescences are in terminal panicles. The corolla is bluish white. The purplish black fruit is a four-seeded drupe.