ကျွန်းခေါက်နွယ်

Myanmar Name – Kyungauknwe

Common Name – Lemon-scented Vitex,Fragrant Chaste Tree

Botanical Name – VitexlimonifoliaWall. ex C.B.Clarke

Family Name – Lamiaceae

Habitat – Native to Southeast Asia, with its distribution range spanning several countries in the region. It can be found in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and possibly other Southeast Asian nations.

Habit – Medium-sized to large shrub or small tree that can grow up to 9 – 12meters in height. It has an upright and bushy growth habit with multiple stems.

Bark – Smooth and grayish-brown when young. As the tree matures, it may become rougher and develop furrows.

Leaves – Simple, opposite, 3 leaflets and lance-shaped, dark green and emit a lemony fragrance. 

Inflorescence –  Inflorescences in the form of panicles, which are clusters of small flowers that emerge at the ends of the branches and the inflorescences are often dense and contain numerous individual flowers.

Flower – Small and tubular in shape. They can vary in color from pale lavender to lilac or violet

Fruit – Small, round, spherical drupe, typically less than 1 centimeter in diameter ,  dark purple to black.

Seed – Single seed, which is often hard and woody.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – Flowering time from June and August and fruiting time from August to October.

Usage – Cultivated as an ornamental plant, it is used in traditional medicine to treat stomach and intestinal problems. It is used to treat fever and inflammation.