Arabian Lilac
Scientific name: Vitex trifolia
POWO Status: Shrub or Tree
IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern
GPS Location: 17° 42′ 55.21″ N, 64° 49′ 50.59″ W
Medicinal Uses
Vitex trifolia (Three-leaf Chaste Tree) is traditionally used across Asia and the Pacific for ailments like headaches, fever, inflammation, skin conditions (ringworm, leprosy), and respiratory issues (coughs, bronchitis), with leaves, fruits, roots, and stems used for pain relief (rheumatic, joint), as diuretics, and to address issues like diarrhea, dysentery, and even cancer, though modern research is exploring these potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Common Medicinal Uses by Plant Part
- Leaves:
- Pain & Inflammation: Rubbed on the forehead for headaches, used for rheumatic pain, sprains, and swelling.
- Fever & Colds: Infused for fever, colds, and catarrh (mucus buildup).
- Skin: Applied for ringworm, eczema, and leprosy.
- Other: Used as a diuretic, antiseptic, and to treat dysentery, liver disorders, and asthma.
- Fruits:
- Headache & Eyes: Used for headaches, migraines, watery eyes, and mastitis (breast inflammation).
- Menstrual Issues: Stimulate uterine blood flow (emmenagogue).
- Other: Treat common colds, cough, and have potential anticancer properties.
- Roots & Stems:
- Expectorant: Used for coughs and respiratory issues like chronic tracheitis.
- Fever: Acts as a febrifuge (fever reducer).
- Other: Used for dysentery, lowering blood pressure, and as an antihelmintic (dewormer).
Modern Research & Properties
- Anti-inflammatory & Antioxidant: Studies suggest leaf extracts have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, reducing inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-6 in cells.
- Antimicrobial & Insecticidal: Extracts show antibacterial and insecticidal activity, particularly against mosquito larvae.
- Analgesic: Possesses pain-relieving properties.
- Anticancer: Preliminary studies indicate potential antitumour activity.
Note: While traditionally used for centuries, much of the evidence for modern applications comes from ethnobotanical records and preliminary lab studies; further clinical research, especially in humans, is needed to confirm many of these uses.
Observations:
Phenological Markers – Vitex trifolia
Common Name: Simpleleaf Chastetree, Beach Vitex, Arabian Lilac
Scientific Name: Vitex trifolia L.
Family: Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae)
Leaf Phenology
- Leaf Type: Trifoliate (three leaflets), aromatic when crushed
- Evergreen/Semi-deciduous: Evergreen in tropical climates; may be semi-deciduous in drier or cooler seasons
- Leaf Flush: New leaves emerge year-round, especially after rainfall or pruning
- Senescence: Minimal in stable climates; some yellowing or leaf drop during drought stress
Flowering
- Inflorescence: Terminal or axillary spikes or panicles, small purplish-blue to lavender flowers
- Blooming Period (Tropics): Primarily late summer to fall, but may flower intermittently year-round
- Pollinators: Attracts bees and butterflies
- Phenological Indicator: Presence of clustered violet flowers at branch tips; flowers open progressively up the spike
Fruiting
- Fruit Type: Small, rounded, fleshy drupe that turns black when ripe
- Fruit Development: Forms shortly after flowering; mature fruit visible within ~4–6 weeks
- Dispersal: Mainly by birds and gravity
- Phenological Indicator: Visible small green-to-black drupes near or following flowering spikes
Suggested Photo Angles
- Full shrub/tree in context (can be sprawling or upright)
- Close-up of leaf structure (trifoliate arrangement)
- Flowering spike with open blooms
- Developing and mature fruits
- Leaf flush or seasonal yellowing (if observed)
Notes for Monitoring
Flowering may be seasonally synchronized with rainfall, especially after dry periods
Vitex trifolia often grows near coastal habitats, roadsides, and disturbed areas; fast-growing and salt-tolerant
In gardens and arboretums, it may be pruned to shape, which can influence flowering and flush cycles