Tropical Plant "Taruma"
Vitex montevidensis

Characteristics - Vitex montevidensis is a fruit tree, rarely cultivated but relatively frequent in its natural habitat, the Southern Plateau (pine forests) and in the semi-decidous forests of the Parana River Basin from Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul to Rio Grande do Sul. It is a deciduous tree, 10-25 in tall. Leaves are compound, palmately lobed, with 3-7 leaflets with long petioles, the leaflets chartaceous with prominent veination on the inferior surface, 5-9 cm long. Inflorescences in axillary panicles, form from October to December. The fruits are globose drupes, ripening from November to January. The pulp is succulent with a sweet flavor and is not easily separated from the seed.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state but are not widely appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.