Tropical Plant "Taruma-do-cerrado"
Vitex polygama

Characteristics - The Vitex polygama is not a cultivated fruit tree, however it is relatively frequent in nature in its native habitat, the savannas and semi-deciduous forests from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. It is a deciduous or semi-deciduous tree, depending on where it occurs, 6-12 m tall. Leaves palmately compound with 5 subsessile leaflets, unequal, coriaceous, dense pubescent on both surfaces, 10-18 cm long. Inflorescences axillary, psedo-umbellate, with blue-violet flowers, form from October to November. The fruits are globose, pubescent drupes that ripen from January to April. They contain a carnose pulp, with a sweet flavor, that is difficult to separate from the seed. It differs from the other two species of Vitex in that it has dense-pubescent leaflets.

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

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.