Vitex lignum-vitae A.Cunn. ex Schauer APNI* Synonyms: Premna lignum-vitae (A.Cunn. ex Schauer) Piep. APNI*
Description: Tree 4–30 m high, young branches ± rusty-tomentose, with yellow surface glands.
Leaves with lamina oblong or obovate to elliptic, mostly 5–10 cm long, 2–4.5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base narrowed, margins entire or sometimes broadly lobed or angled on saplings and sucker shoots, turning black on drying; upper surface shiny green and glabrous, lower surface paler, young leaves with yellowish surface glands, ± glabrous, domatia hairy or hairless pits in vein axils and as bumps on upper surface; petiole 5–20 mm long, ± articulate at apex.
Cymes axillary; primary peduncle 5–15 mm long. Calyx tube truncate, 3–4 mm long, persistent. Corolla 9–13 mm long, purplish red to pinkish mauve; tube incurved, 6.5–10 mm long.
Drupe usually 8–15 mm diam., pink to reddish purple.
Flowering: irregularly, mainly April
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in dry or subtropical rainforest on steep stony slopes; north from Richmond R.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by B. J. Conn
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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