Black Plum

Vitex doniana

Physical Characteristics

Vitex doniana is a deciduous Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Sunbirds. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Senegal to the Sudan, south to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Coffee Condiment Drink Sweetener Tea Fruit - raw, cooked, candied etc[299 , 335 ]. A sweet flavour with a mealy texture, it tastes a bit like prunes[303 , 323 , 335 ]. It contains vitamins A and B and can be made into a jam[303 ]. The jam is of good quality, somewhat like plum jam but better for spreading[299 ]. A syrup made from the fruit pulp can be used instead of other syrups as a nutritive sweetener[299 ]. The black fruit is about 2cm long[335 ]. The fruit can be made into a wine[303 ]. Wine obtained from controlled fermentation had 10.5% alcohol content, and wine obtained from spontaneous fermentation 5%[299 ]. Young twigs and leaves are an esteemed vegetable[299 , 317 ]. The leaves are often used as a herb for cooking[303 ]. The pounded leaves can be added to warm filtered grain beer and then drunk[303 ]. It is said to make them stronger[299 ]. Seeds[299 ]. The seeds are roasted and used to make a coffee-like drink[323 ]. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute[301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Anodyne Antidiarrhoeal Dysentery Febrifuge Galactogogue Hypotensive Leprosy Odontalgic Ophthalmic Skin Tonic The plant is often used in traditional medicine. Modern research has shown that the plant has a range of actions upon the body. Consumption of large amounts of the fruits has been shown to cause a transient reduction in reproductive functioning in female olive baboons. The presence of progestogen-like compounds in the fruit has been suggested as the probable cause[299 ]. An aqueous extract of the stem bark has been shown to produce a dose-dependant hypotensive effect and to also be hepato-protective[299 ]. Stem bark extracts can inhibit the growth of clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae and Escherichia coli, suggesting that they may be valuable in the treatment of dysentery and other gastroenteritic infections[299 ]. The fruit is used to improve fertility and to treat anaemia, jaundice, leprosy and dysentery[303 ]. Both the dried and the fresh fruits are eaten as a treatment against diarrhoea[299 ] The root is anodyne[299 ]. A decoction is used to treat gonorrhoea, ankylostomiasis, rickets, gastro-intestinal disorders and jaundice[299 , 303 ]. A decoction of the root is drunk by women to treat backaches[303 ]. The leaves are anodyne, febrifuge, galactagogue and tonic[299 ]. A decoction is taken internally as a tonic and to treat fevers and respiratory diseases[299 ]. It is applied externally to increase milk flow and as a treatment for headache, stiffness, measles, rash, fever, chickenpox and hemiplegia[299 ]. The young tender leaves are pounded and the juice squeezed into the eyes to treat conjunctivitis and other eye troubles[299 , 303 ]. A paste made from the pounded leaves and bark is applied to wounds and burns[299 ]. The powdered bark is added to water and then taken to treat colic[299 ]. A bark extract is used to treat stomach complaints, kidney troubles, leprosy, liver diseases, and to control bleeding after childbirth[299 ].

Known Hazards

The sawdust from the wood has been known to cause dermatitis[299 ].