Vitex madiensis

Vitex madiensis is a shrub or small tree in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It grows in tropical Africa, from Senegal east to Somalia. Its range reaches south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. People call it ekarukei and murukukwe. It grows in grassland, with or without trees, and dense woods. It also grows in flood pans with Brachystegia trees. Its home range has a dry season.

Published size lists give both height and spread as 13 feet [4 metres]. Other reports give a height of about 16 feet [5 metres]. Some plants grow a little taller. The plant does not always take a small tree form. Some grow new stems each year from a large, woody rootstock below ground. These stems reach about 5 feet [1.5 metres] long. The sources say little about leaf shape or bark. The leaves yield an essential oil with a strong, sweet scent.

Bees pollinate the flowers, carrying pollen from bloom to bloom. The sources do not say when it blooms. Ripe fruit turns purple-black and is about an olive's size. Its shape ranges from oblong to round. Each fruit is about one inch [0.025 metres] long. A thin layer of sweet flesh surrounds the stone. The flesh has a mealy, or flour-like, feel. The stone holds three or four seeds. People eat the fruit fresh or cook it. Wild fruit feeds local homes across its native range. People also sell it in local markets there.

PFAF lists full sun and moist soil that drains well. The plant accepts sand, loam and clay soils. Soil with a mild acid level to neutral suits it. PFAF gives USDA zones 10–12 and a medium growth rate. Sources list growing it from seed but give few other care details. People often keep plants when they clear land for crops. PFAF also lists it for food forests. Its fruit gives it a use beyond looks.

People use the leaves and roots in their traditional medicine. They use bark extracts for skin problems and toothache. Branches serve as chewing sticks for teeth and gums. People burn the wood as firewood or make charcoal. Sources note interest in making leaf oil for sale. Neither source reports known hazards. This does not prove that every use is safe. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases. Useful Tropical Plants reports a 2019 IUCN assessment of Least Concern. That account cites its wide range and large population. It names no major threats.