Vitex megapotamica

Vitex megapotamica
Close-up of stems, leaves, and ripened fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Vitex
Species:	V. megapotamica
Binomial name
Vitex megapotamica Cham.
Synonyms[1]
Bignonia megapotamica Spreng. Psilogyne viticifolia DC. Vitex montevidensis Cham. Vitex multinervis (Cham.) Schauer Vitex taruma Mart. Vitex viticifolia (DC.) B.L.Rob.

Vitex megapotamica is a hardwood fruit tree found in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.[2][1][3][4][5] In Brazil it is commonly called tarumã.

The tarumã grows to be up to ten metres tall.[5] Its bark is coloured dark grey; its compound leaves have a long petiole and five elliptic leaflets.[5] The small, abundant flowers developed into fleshy stone fruit. The fruits are eaten by a number of species, and serve also as fishing bait.[5]

Tarumã grows from the Southeast Region of Brazil to the South Region, and on through Uruguay and Paraguay to Argentina.[5]

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).[5]

References

1. "The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
2. "Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
3. R. Govaerts; Oliveira-Filho, A.T.; de Lima, C.T.; França, F.; Paña-Chocarro, M.C.; Espada-Mateos, C.; Vera, M.; Céspedes, G. & Knapp, S. Jørgensen, P.M.; Nee, M.H. & Beck., S.G. (eds.). "WCSP. 'World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
4. "Vitex in Flora do Brasil 2020 em construção. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro". Retrieved 6 July 2017.
5. "Tarumã". Trilhas da ESALQ (in Portuguese). Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo. Retrieved 2016-04-04.