Vitex montevidensis
| Vitex montevidensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Close-up of stems, leaves, and ripened fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Vitex |
| Species: | V. montevidensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Vitex montevidensis Cham. | |
Vitex montevidensis is a hardwood fruit tree found in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.[1] In Brazil it is commonly called tarumã.
The tarumã grows to be up to ten metres tall.[1] Its bark is coloured dark grey; its compound leaves have a long petiole and five elliptic leaflets.[1] The small, abundant flowers developed into fleshy stone fruit. The fruits are eaten by a number of species, and serve also as fishing bait.[1]
Tarumã grows from the Southeast Region of Brazil to the South Region, and on through Uruguay and Paraguay to Argentina.[1]
In Brazil, its common names include azeitona do mato (forest olive), azeitona brava, cinco folhas (five leaves), copiúba, sombra de touro (bull's shadow), and tarumã romã (tarumã pomegranate).[1]