Beach Vitex

Appearance

"Vitex rotundifolia" is a sprawling shrub that can grow as tall as 1.5 m though it typically ranges from 0.5 to 1 m in height. As a product of its rapid nodal rooting, the plant can form dense mats reaching in excess of 10 m from the parent plant.

Naming

Recent revisions of the genus "Vitex" have placed "V. rotundifolia" in synonymy with "V. trifolia" subsp. "littoralis" Steenis. Previous researchers have placed "V. rotundifolia" within "V. trifolia". Moldenke placed "V. rotundifolia" in synonymy with "V. trifolia" var. "simplicifolia". The placement of Moldenke was in disagreement with Corner, which held "V. rotundifolia" as distinct from "V. trifolia". The placement of Corner was subsequently supported by several authors: Fosberg, Munir, and Wagner.Likely due to the wide range over which "V. rotundifolia" is native, the plant has acquired a host of common names.

English speaking countries
⤷  Beach vitex
⤷  Round-leaved chaste tree
⤷  Single-leaf chaste tree
⤷  Chasteberry
⤷  Monk's pepper

China
⤷  Dan ye man jing

Japan
⤷  Hamagou

Korea
⤷  Sunbiginamu
⤷  Man Hyung Ja

Hawaii
⤷  Kolokolo kahakai
⤷  Hinahina kolo
⤷  Manawanawa
⤷  Mawanawana
⤷  Pōhinahina
⤷  Polinalina

Distribution

"V. rotundifolia" grows along sandy and rocky coasts from 0 to 15 m above sea level. Plants grow down to the ocean waves themselves. "V. rotundifolia" is highly tolerant of the harsh beach dune environment characterized by intense heat, high wind, coarse-textured soil, and elevated salinity.

Behavior

Beach vitex is a perennial that grows throughout the summer months in temperate and tropical areas of the Pacific. In temperate areas, the plant is deciduous and loses its leaves during the cool nights of fall. In the southeastern United States, leaves emerge in April while flowering occurs from June–August with fruiting following shortly thereafter. Fruits may remain attached to the plant into the early spring. "V. rotundifolia" is capable of overwintering on the dunes in South and North Carolina and in gulf coastal areas. It can survive in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 10.

Habitat

This plant's natural range includes much of the Pacific Rim and many of the Pacific islands. The plant was observed by Munir from Northern and Western Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Polynesia, Hawaii, Malaya, Philippines, and Hong Kong. Moldenke reported "V. rotundifolia" in Brazil, Mauritius, Reunion, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands, China, Taiwan, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Korea, Indochina, Thailand, Borneo, and Sarawak. The plant has also been observed in southern India. Cultivation of "V. rotundifolia" has been reported in England, Florida, Germany, the Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Java, Johnston Island, Maryland, and New York. At present in the United States, beach vitex has become naturalized only in southeastern states along the east and gulf coasts.

Uses

"Vitex rotundifolia" has many medicinal uses. These uses generally parallel those of "Vitex agnus-castus".