Vitex incisa Lam

Vitex negundo is a much branched shrub with quadrangular tomentose, densely whitish tomentose branchlets, up to 5 m tall or sometimes a small, slender tree. Bark thin, grey. Leaves palmately compound, 3-5 foliolate; leaflets lanceolate, entire or rarely crenate, terminal leaflets 5-10 cm x 1-3 cm, lateral leaflets smaller, all nearly glabrous above, whitish tomentose beneath. Flowers bluish-purple, small, in peduncled cymes, forming large, terminal, often compound, pyramidal panicles. Fruit a succulent drupe, black when ripe, 5-6 mm in diameter. Seed 5-6 mm in diameter invested at the base with enlarged calyx.

The shrub seeds throughout the year.

The shrub tolerates alkaline and saline soils.

Found throughout the greater part of India, often occurring gregariously; it is abundant along river banks, in moist situations, open wastelands and near deciduous forests. Ascending to an altitude of 1 500 m in the outer Himalayas.

V. negundo is widely planted as a hedge plant along roads and between fields.

Propagation is generally by stem cuttings that are first planted in polythene tubes or nursery beds in May-June and transplanted 2 months later. Cuttings have been planted directly in the field successfully.

Sambhalu grows moderately to fairly fast and can be managed by coppicing with a rotation of 2 years. It yields about 0.3 tons/ha of air-dry fuelwood when planted on contours 5 m apart.

The fungus Cercospora agarwalli has been recorded on the leaves and larvae of a number of insect pests defoliate, mine (Labdia callistrepta and Stagmatophora acanthodes) and fold (Pycnarmon caberalis) leaves. The locust Schistocerca gregaria also defoliates, the parasite Cuscuta reflexa attacks the plant.

Seeds are recalcitrant and lose viability in about 3 weeks.

Erosion control: V. negundo roots are strong and deep and suckers profusely. It can be used as a contour hedge in sandy arid areas for soil retention and moisture conservation. Shade or shelter: It has been found suitable for shelterbelts and windbreaks. Reclamation: The shrub can be used for afforestation, especially for reclamation of forestlands which are affected by floods, and in arid areas. Ornamental: Some forms are ornamental. Boundary or barrier or support: It is used as a live fence.

Food: Seeds are reported to be eaten after boiling, for instance in the Philippines. Fuel: Stems are used as firewood. Fibre: Branches and twigs are used in basket making. Essential oil: Leaves yield an essential oil. Poison: Leaves have insecticidal properties and are laid over stored grain to ward off insects. Medicine: All parts of the plant are commonly used in Indian medicine. Leaves possess discutient properties and are applied to rheumatic swellings of the joints and in sprains. They are aromatic and are smoked for relief of headache and catarrh and a decoction is employed in smoke baths for the treatment of febrile, catarrhal and rheumatic affections. The juice of the leaves is used for the treatment of foetid discharges. They show anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal activity. Roots are used in local medicine for dysentery and are anthelmintic, flowers are astringent and fruits are considered vermifuge. Other products: Active ingredients that have been isolated from the leaves include Casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p –hydroxybenzoic acid, D-fructose and the alkaloids nishindine and hydrocotylene. Leaf extract has shown anticancer activity against Ehrlich ascites tumour cells.