Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Simpleleaf chastetree is a large coastal shrub or small tree, less that 5 m in height with the stems covered by soft hairs (tomentose). The leaves are oppositely arranged along the stems and are usally compound, composed of 3 linear leaflets which range between 1 -12 cm in length. The upper surface of the leaves are green and the lower surface grayish green. The flowers are born in panicles or clusters up to 18 cm in length. Individual flowers have purple to violet two-lipped corollas that are approximately 5 mm long. The stamen are in two pairs and the ovary is superior, or develops above the corolla. The fleshy fruits are about 6 mm in diameter and contain 4 small black seeds.

(Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore)

The leaves are used to treat female ailments in the Cook Islands, and used to relieve fever in Samoa. Additionally in Samoa, the dried leaves are burned to deter mosquitos.

(Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore)

Vitex trifolia is naturally found along coastlines from tropical East Africa as far east as French Polynesia.

(Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore)

We currently have 21 herbarium specimens for Vitex trifolia in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 0222232 - collected by D. Anderson in 1949
• 020678 - collected by W. M. Bush in 1974
• 020679 - collected by John J. Fay in 1974
• 059772 - collected by Art Whistler in 1984
• 059773 - collected by Art Whistler in 1984
• 020677 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1985
• 020676 - collected by Richard A. Howard in 1985
• 020675 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
• 0034289 - collected by Art Whistler in 1989
• 009135 - collected by Art Whistler in 1990
• 009500 - collected by Art Whistler in 1991
• 044707 - collected by Art Whistler in 2001
• 048288 - collected by K. Kawelo in 2007
• 051612 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2007
• 096191 - collected by J. A. Sanney in 2008
• 074899 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2016
• 073081 - collected by Tim Flynn in 2016
• 093288 - collected by Gregory M. Plunkett in 2016
• 093638 - collected by Gregory M. Plunkett in 2016
• 093067 - collected by Gregory M. Plunkett in 2019
• 082221 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2020