Indian three-leaf vitex

Vitex trifolia, commonly called Indian three-leaf vitex or simpleleaf chastetree, is an aromatic evergreen shrub or small tree in the Lamiaceae family typically reaching 3-8 m in height with trunks to 20 cm in diameter. Leaves are oppositely arranged and usually palmately compound with three (occasionally five) elliptic to obovate leaflets—the central leaflet up to 12 cm long, the lateral ones about 5 cm—densely whitish-tomentose beneath and grey-green above, releasing a sage-like fragrance when crushed. From late summer to autumn the plant produces large terminal panicles up to 25 cm long of small two-lipped tubular flowers with mauve to purple corollas, followed by globose drupes about 6 mm in diameter that ripen black. Native to coastal tropical Asia, Africa, Australia, and Pacific islands, the species occurs in beach forests, mangrove margins, and rocky shores below 150 m elevation and is widely planted as an ornamental and medicinal hedge.