nirgundi :

Geographical distribution:

v Vitex usually grows from three to nine feet tall, but under cultivation can develop to 20 feet tall.

v Nirgundi occur in tropical to temperate regions (up to 2200 m from east to west)

v grows gregariously in wastelands and is also widely used as a hedge-plant.

v This species is globally distributed in Indo-Malesia,

v cultivated in America, Europe, Asia and West Indies.

v Within India, it is found throughout the greater part of India, ascending to an altitude of 1500 metres in the outer Himalayas

Ø It is abundant in open-waste lands.

Ø Locally distributed throughout the State Maharashtra along the banks of rivers; very common near the sea-coast in tidal and beach-forests in Konkan; along Deccan rivers.

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

Vitex negundo Linn. has shown promise as an effective bio-control agent.

The extracts of Vitex negundo Linn. possess inhibitory, deterrent or lethal activity on biological agents that cause disease and damage to other

organisms .

Additionally, production of plant secondary metabolites de novo, by in vitro cell culture methods, has assumed importance in the last two decades

because the structural complexity of naturally occurring metabolites forms the basis for the chemical synthesis of novel and more potent analogues

Plant conservation:

IUCN threat status : Not evaluated (This taxon has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List)

Kotakkal Ayurveda - Mother land of modern ayurveda

nirgundi - Vitex negundo Linn. - Verbenaceae

nirgundi :

Geographical distribution:

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

Plant conservation:

Medicinal Plants