''Vitex pinnata'' is a tree of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle, or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil (herb), ba ...

. It is native to south and south east Asia. It grows slowly, ultimately reaching 20 metres in height with 1–3 m. circumference trunk. It features a grey-brown-yellow bark. Its leaves are scented.

Description

Its bark is fissured, flaky, and pale yellowish grey to brown. The inner bark is pale yellow becoming green on exposure. The sapwood is soft yellow to brown. Its leaves are 3- or 5-foliolate. Leaflets are almost sessile. The outer two are usually much smaller than the others, ovate or elliptic. They are 3–25 cm long, 1.5–10 cm wide; their base is rounded to slightly wedge-shaped. The apex is acuminate; margin entire; secondary veins come in 10—20 pairs. Its inflorescences are terminal panicles. The flowers are whitish blue. The fruits are 5–8 mm in diameter; ripening black

Distribution

In the Indo-Malaysia region it is found in Borneo, Sabah, Sarawak, and across Kalimantan. It can be found in India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. In the Philippines this species is known only on the islands of Palawan, Culion and Tawi-Tawi

Taxonomy

''V. pinnata'' has many depreciated synonyms, including ''V. pubescens'' and ''V. arborea''. ; Common names Some of its common names are laban, amola, gagil, humulawan, kalapapa (

Kalimantan Kalimantan (; ) is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. It constitutes 73% of the island's area, and consists of the provinces of Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan. The non-Ind ...

), hiketaroe (

Sumba Sumba (; ), natively also spelt as Humba, Hubba, Suba, or Zuba (in Sumba languages) is an Indonesian island (part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago group) located in the Eastern Indonesia and administratively part of the East Nusa Tenggara pro ...

), pampa (

Komodo Island Komodo ( ) is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia. It is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island. Komodo Island has a surface area of 29 ...

), kopiher, stone aloban, kardoek aloban, flower aloban (

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

), many laban (

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

Ecology

It grows well usually in secondary forests, on riverbanks and along roads including on marginal land such as ''Imperata cylindrica'' area. The species seemingly tolerates regular fires. In tropical conditions such as in East Kalimantan, flowering and fruiting are near-continuous from January to December. The fruits are eaten by birds and its seeds need light to germinate.

Uses

''V. pinnata'' has a strong and durable wood, it is durable even in contact with water or soil. It is grayish brown in color. Density is about 930 kg per cubic metre (58 lbs per cubic foot). Wood is used for posts, door and window frames, beds and furniture. The wood is used for knife handles. The leaves and bark are used to treat abdominal pain, fever and malaria.

Conservation status

Least concern.

Propagation

''V. pinnata'' can be propagated by seeds, cuttings and wildlings. One kilogram of ''Vitex pinnata'' seeds number around 1100-1200 seeds.Yassir, I. and Mulyana, O., 2009. Selection of tree species potential to support restoration activities in ex-coal mining site through an ecological approach. Proseding Workshop IPTEK Penyelamatan Hutan melalui Rehabilatasi Lahan Bekas Tambang Batubara. Balai Besar Penelitian Dipterokarpa. Samarinda. East Kalimantan.

Sources

*''Timber and its uses'', Forest Department of Sri Lanka (1962).

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q7937055 pinnata Flora of the Indomalayan realm Trees of Indo-China Trees of Malesia Trees of Sri Lanka Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Endangered plants Lamiales of Asia