black-plum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black-plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vitex glabrata var. bombacifolia
• Vitex glabrata f. bombacifolia
• Vitex glabrata var. poilanei
• Vitex minahassae
• Vitex nitida
• Vitex cunninghamii
• Vitex pentaphylla
• Vitex elegans
• Vitex glabrata f. pallida
• Vitex helogiton
• Vitex pallida
• Vitex bombacifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Vitex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of India and the neighboring nation of Bangladesh. Furthermore, its presence extends to the lush environments of Assam and the rugged terrains of the East Himalaya. Beyond the mainland, the species also inhabits the tropical settings of the Andaman Islands. This wide range showcases its ability to thrive across various ecological zones within the Indo-China and South Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Vitex glabrata is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vitex glabrata is characterized by a versatile growth form that ranges from a shrub to a tree. It is a woody, self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining an independent and terrestrial life habit. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant dimensional variation, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 20 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vitex glabrata is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework tailored to its environmental interactions. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme Rubisco, which is typical for many woody dicotyledonous species. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, Vitex glabrata is not a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen sources, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil through its root system rather than establishing symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Vitex glabrata is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit high uniformity in their physical properties. Based on quantitative data, the seed mass is remarkably consistent, with a mean value of 0.21739 g. This measurement is mirrored in both the maximum and minimum recorded values, which are also exactly 0.21739 g, indicating a lack of variance in seed weight within the observed sample. This precision in seed mass suggests a highly stable reproductive output regarding the individual weight of the dispersal units.

Seed mass mean:

0.21739 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vitex glabrata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Vitex glabrata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include KHAINAOSIDE A, KHAINAOSIDE B, KHAINAOSIDE C.

KHAINAOSIDE A

1. Journal of natural products

KHAINAOSIDE B

1. Journal of natural products

KHAINAOSIDE C

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Vitex glabrata has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiestrogenic.

Antiestrogenic

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Vitex glabrata has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include AIDS, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis.

Aids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Psoriasis

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Vitex glabrata has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Water extracts, ethanol extracts.

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity