Beach Vitex

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• beach vitex
• round-leaf chastetree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vitex trifolia var. repens
• Vitex ovata var. subtrisecta
• Vitex trifolia var. ovata
• Vitex trifolia var. simplicifolia
• Vitex agnus-castus var. ovata
• Vitex trifolia var. unifoliolata
• Vitex trifolia subsp. litoralis
• Vitex rotundifolia f. rosea
• Vitex rotundifolia f. albiflora
• Vitex rotundifolia f. albescens
• Vitex repens
• Vitex ovata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further down its taxonomic lineage, it is situated in the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Lamiales, and the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Vitex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across various regions of East Asia. In China, its distribution spans from the northern reaches of Manchuria to the North-Central provinces. It is also commonly found throughout the China Southeast region. Beyond mainland China, the species is widely distributed across the island nation of Japan. Finally, its range extends to include the Korean Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Vitex rotundifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural growth patterns and ecological positioning, it exhibits a complex life form profile that encompasses both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte traits. As a phanerophyte, it possesses visible shoot systems that allow for significant structural development, while its nanophanerophyte characteristics indicate the ability to maintain relatively low-growing, woody stems that stay close to the ground, facilitating its resilience in various coastal or scrubland habitats.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vitex rotundifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning primarily as a self-supporting shrub. While it exhibits a versatile ecological presence, ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic environments to terrestrial habitats, its physical structure remains fundamentally terrestrial rather than epiphytic. As a plant, it is entirely independent, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber; instead, it maintains a self-supporting habit without the need for liana or vine-like attachment to other structures.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vitex rotundifolia is characterized by a robust metabolic framework adapted to coastal and tropical environments, most notably through its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs via the Calvin cycle, where atmospheric carbon dioxide is directly incorporated into organic compounds through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. This pathway is highly efficient in temperate to subtropical moisture-rich conditions but requires physiological adaptations to manage potential photorespiration and water loss in its typical sandy, saline habitats. To complement this primary metabolic strategy, the plant exhibits specialized physiological mechanisms for osmotic regulation and salt tolerance, allowing it to maintain turgor pressure and enzymatic function despite high salinity and fluctuating soil moisture levels. Its transpiration rates and stomatal conductance are tightly regulated to balance the intake of CO2 for photosynthesis with the necessity of conserving water, ensuring metabolic stability across varying environmental stressors.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Vitex rotundifolia is characterized by the production of small seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and colonization processes. Based on empirical data, the seed mass exhibits a highly uniform profile with a mean value of 0.01839 g. This uniformity is absolute across the observed sample, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are identical at 0.01839 g. This consistency in seed size suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a predictable amount of nutrient reserves to facilitate germination and early seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.01839 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vitex rotundifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
5. Biomolecules

Leaf

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
2. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology

Chemicals

Vitex rotundifolia has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Artemetin, Vitexicarpin, luteolin, Casticin, 10-O-Vanilloylaucubin.

Artemetin

1. Journal of natural products
2. Natural product communications
3. Biomolecules
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Vitexicarpin

1. Natural product communications
2. Biomolecules
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
4. Planta medica

luteolin

1. Natural product communications
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Biomolecules

Casticin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of natural products

10-O-Vanilloylaucubin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

5,3'-dihydroxy-6,7,4'-trimethoxyflavanone

1. Journal of natural products

6',10-di-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl) aucubin

1. Natural product research

Agnuside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

Activities

Vitex rotundifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiasthmatic, Antioxidant, Chemopreventive.

Antiasthmatic

1. International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon

Chemopreventive

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Medicinal Uses

Vitex rotundifolia has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include eye pain, headache, migraine, Plasmodium falciparum, breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations