Vitex hildebrandtii Vatke

Vitex payos is a small tree, 2-10 m tall; branches stiff, crown rounded; bark brown or grey-brown, deeply fissured, stems densely pale ferruginous woolly, hairy becoming glabrous, sometimes thick and corky with prominent large petiole scars. Leaflets (3-)5-foliolate, elliptic to obovate, 3-19 cm long, 2-10 cm wide, broadly rounded or obovate at the apex, rarely emarginated, cuneate at base, roughly pubescent above, densely floccuse velvety beneath; petiole 6-15 cm long. Flower cymes few, many-flowered, axillary, sometimes almost globose, 6-15 cm long, peduncle 2.5-10 cm long, bracts linear, 8-20 mm long, 5-10 mm wide, projecting in very young inflorescences. Calyx abconical, densely ferruginous, pubescent, tube 2.3-3 mm long. Corolla fragrant, white, blue or mauve, tube 3-4 mm long, hairy outside. Fruit black, oblong or sub-globose, 2-2.5 cm long, 1.4-2.4 cm wide, shiny, glabrous. Calycine cup dark, 1-2 cm high, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, broadly crenate, fruiting pedicel 2-5 mm long.

Flowering takes place during the rainy season (September-December), while fruit ripening occurs during the dry season (April-June). Vitex species generally exhibit hermaphroditism, where both functional male and female organs are in the same flower (Lars Schmidt, 2000).

V. payos often grows in sandy soils, less often clay red and rocky ones.

V. payos is a species of hot, low and semi-arid places with high water table. In more arid zones it is found near rock outcrops. The most commonly associated tree species are Acacia polyacantha, Dalbergia melanoxylon, Brachystegia spiciformis etc.

V. payos regenerates naturally by seed and root suckers.

Partial clearing of vegetation is essential before planting out to open up space. Tending should include spot weeding and slashing until the crop is well established. The tree coppices well.

Seed germination is hindered by the hard seed coat. This is normally broken by annual fires in the wild.

Soil improver: The tree improves the soil through leaf fall.

Food: The ripe fruit contains a black, mealy and sweet pulp. Fodder: Leaves are used as fodder. Fuel: The tree is used for fuel. Timber: Wood is very hard and is used for making wooden spoons and poles. Medicine: V. payos is used as medicine for stomachache.