Roundleaf Chastetree

Description

Vitex agnus-castus, also called vitex, chaste tree, chasteberry, Abraham's balm, lilac chastetree, or monk's pepper, is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is one of the few temperate-zone species of Vitex, which is on the whole a genus of tropical and sub-tropical flowering plants. Theophrastus mentioned the shrub several times, as agnos (?????) in Enquiry into Plants.It has been long believed to be an anaphrodisiac but its effectiveness remains controversial. This is a cross-pollinating plant. However self-pollination may also occur now and then.L ' Chaste tree ( Vitex agnus-castus ) is a shrub of the family of the Verbenaceae (Lamiaceae according to the classification APG III), widespread in the Mediterranean humid environments. Vitex agnus castus L. is the botanical name of the plant. Vulgar drug names very common in Italy are False Pepe (because the ripe and dried fruits are similar to the Black Pepper ) or Pepper of the monks. The drug is also known internationally as Chasteberry, Chaste tree, Monk's pepper.