Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Chaste-tree - Vitex agnus-castus   L.
Members of Lamiaceae:
Members of Vitex with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 6 » Order Lamiales » Family Lamiaceae
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AuthorL.
DistributionPiedmont only, so far as is known. The only sizeable population was the one in Rockingham County, collected in 1969 and distributed to many herbaria. The Orange County specimen came from a single tree off-campus at UNC in 1977. The Mecklenburg County specimen also was a single tree "near juniper grove" on campus of UNCC.

Native of Mediterranean Europe; in N.A. PA, KY, and OK south to FL, TX; also west to Pacific states.
AbundanceVery rare.
HabitatRoadside thicket, campus near juniper grove, roadside disturbed area.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting June-August.
IdentificationChaste-tree is a fairly large shrub to small tree, growing up to 10-12 feet tall and wide; it is often seen planted in yards and arboretums. It is easily identified by its leaves palmately divided into 5 slender leaflets, each dark above and pale gray beneath (due to dense hairs). The inflorescences are elongate spikes that are pale gray with pubescence. The small flowers are deep blue-violet.
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Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankGNR
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USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
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