Vitex. | | VERBENACEAE. 763; 
Family XC. VERBENACEAE. 
Herbs or shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite or whorled, very rarely 
alternate, usually simple (digitate in Vitex); stipules wanting. Flowers 
generally hermaphrodite, irregular or rarely regular. Calyx inferior, 
persistent, 4-5-toothed. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous ; limb 2-lipped. 
or equal, 4—5-lobed, lobes imbricate. Stamens usually 4, didynamous, 
inserted on the tube of the corolla; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. 
Ovary superior, entire or shortly 4-lobed, 2-4-celled; style terminal, 
simple; stigma entire or 2-lobed; ovules solitary or 2 collateral in each 
cell, erect or ascending. Fruit drupaceous or almost capsular, 2—4-celled 
(1-celled in Avicennia), indehiscent or the whole fruit or the endocarp 
alone separating into 2-4 pyrenes. Seeds solitary in each cell, usually 
erect or ascending; albumen present or wanting; embryo straight, radicle 
inferior. 4% 
A moderately large family, most abundant in the tropics or warm temperate 
regions of both hemispheres; a few species extend both north and south into cool 
climates. Genera 70 or thereabouts; species estimated at 750. Bitter or astringent 
properties predominate in the family, but these can hardly be said to be of medicinal 
importance. The teak ('ectona grandis), the timber of which is so largely employed 
for shipbuilding, is the species of most economic importance. The genera Verbena, 
Lantana, and Clerodendron contain several well-known garden-plants. Of the New 
Zealand genera, Teucridium is endemic; Vitea is found in nearly all warm countries ; 
while Avicennia is widely spread on most tropical shores. 
Tree. Leaves digitate. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruita fleshy drupe.. 1. VITEX. 
Slender shrub. Leaves small, entire. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruit 
separating into 4 pyrenes i .. 2, TEUCRIDIUM. 
Maritime shrub. Leaves entire. Corolla regular. Fruit capsular 3. AVICHNNTA.,. 
ee ne 3 
1. VITEX Linn. )V3S°. 
Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, digitately 3-5-foliolate, very 
rarely simple. Flowers in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles. 
Calyx 5-toothed or -lobed. Corolla-tube short; limb oblique, 2-lipped ; 
lobes 5, the lowest one usually larger than the rest. Stamens 4, 
didynamous, usually exserted; anther-cells distinct. Ovary 2-4-celled ; 
ovules solitary or 2 in each cell; style filiform, shortly 2-lobed. Drupe 
globose or obovoid, more or less succulent; endocarp bony, usually 
4-celled. Seeds obovate or oblong, albumen wanting. 
A large genus of about 70 species, scattered through most tropical and subtropical 
regions, rare or absent in temperate climates. The New Zealand species is endemic. 
1. V. lueens 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxix (1897) 525.—A large 
handsome tree 40-60ft. high, with a massive trunk 2-5{ft. diam., 
and a large crown of spreading branches; branchlets tetragonous, 
glabrous. Leaves on long stout petioles 3-5in. long; leaflets 3-5, 
shortly petioled, 2—-5in. long, elliptic-oblong or obovate, abruptly 
acute or almost acuminate, entire, quite glabrous, dark-green and 
glossy. Flowers abundantly produced, dull-red, about lin. long, 
arranged in 4-15-flowered dichotomously branched axillary panicles. 
Calyx short, cup-shaped, truncate or obscurely 5-toothed. Corolla 
pubescent, 2-lipped; upper lip arched, entire or bifid; lower lip 
deflexed, 3-lobed. Drupe subglobose, bright-red, 2-2 in. diam.; endocar) 
