Vitex glabrata

Family

Lamiaceae

Botanical Name

Vitex glabrata R.Br.

Brown, R. (1810) Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae: 512. Type: Northern Territory, Groote Eylandt, R. Brown s.n.; lecto: MEL 97917; iso: BM, MEL97916. Fide Mumir, A. A. (1987).

Synonyms

Vitex cunninghamii Schauer, Prodromus 11: 691(1847), Type: In Novae-Hollandia septentr.-occid. ad littora sinus Careening Bay (A. Cunningh.!) Syntypes: G-DC, K, MEL. Fide Munir, A. A. (1987).

Common name

Smooth Chastetree; Vitex; Plum, Black; Gentileng; Black Plum; Bihbool

Stem

Bark finely fissured. Dead bark layered.

Leaves

Leaflet blades about 5-9 x 4-6 cm, non-glandular, midrib depressed on the upper surface. Lateral veins about 6-15 pairs. Compound leaf petiole ridged on the upper surface.

Flowers

Inflorescence about 10-18 cm long, usually shorter than the leaves, pedicels pubescent, about 1-3 mm long. Calyx cup-shaped, tubular, with five minute teeth at the apex, pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Tube cylindrical, about 2-3 x 1.5-2 mm lobes about 0.5 mm long. Corolla tubular in the lower part but 5-lobed and 2-lipped at the apex, pubescent but non-glandular outside, villous inside but glabrous at the base. Corolla tube +/- cylindrical, about twice as long as the calyx, about 4-6 x 1.5-2.5 mm. Stamens exserted, filaments villous in the lower half, glandular in the upper half, about 3.5-7.5 mm long, anthers +/- orbicular, about 0.5 mm long, locules divaricate at the base. Ovary globose, glabrous, about 1-1.5 mm diam. Style exserted, glabrous, filiform, about 5-8 mm long, stigma shortly bifid.

Fruit

Fruits obovoid to ellipsoid, about 5-10(-13) x 5-9 mm, calyx accrescent, persistent at the base of the fruit. Seed enclosed in a stone.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to Australia, occurs in WA and NT and may extend into the western border area of Queensland. Altitudinal range from near sea level to about 300 m. Grows in monsoon forest.