Lavender-purple Vitex compressa flowers show fine darker lines and yellow throat markings beside rounded purple buds

Vitex compressa


Native to the southern Caribbean and tropical South America, this tree grows in humid tropical habitats. Lavender-purple flowers have a prominent lower lobe marked by fine darker lines, with pale yellow visible near the throat. It belongs to Lamiaceae, the mint family. In Colombia, it also grows in cacao agroforestry and pastures. Its very hard wood is used for fence posts. The fruits attract fruit-eating birds, and it can be propagated from seed. Photographed in Colombia.


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