Vitex payos

Vitex payos
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Vitex
Species:	V. payos
Binomial name
	Vitex payos; (Lour.) Merr.
Synonyms
	Allasia payos Lour. ; Vitex allasia Planch. ; Vitex hildebrandtii Vatke ; Vitex iringensis Gürke ; Vitex shirensis Baker ; Vitex zambesiaca Baker ; Vitex isotjensis Gibbs ; Vitex eylesii S.Moore ; Vitex villosa Sim ; Vitex hildebrandtii var. glabrescens W.Piep. ; Vitex hildebrandtii var. zambesiaca (Baker) W.Piep. ; Vitex payos var. glabrescens (W.Piep.) Moldenke ; Vitex payos var. stipitata Moldenke;

Vitex payos is a species of shrub or tree in the family of Lamiaceae which has a native range in southern Africa stretching from Angola to Kenya.^[2] It bears fruits with edible pulp which have a taste often compared to chocolate.^[3]^[4]

In English it is commonly known as the black plum or chocolate berry. Common names in other languages and dialects include:^[5]

Chonyi and Digo: mfudu or mfudu onga
Embu and Mbeere: mburu or muburu
Gogo, Hehe, and Nyamwezi: mfulu or mfulu-genge
Kamba: kimuu or muu
Luguru: mfuru
Meru: muuru
Swahili: mfudu or mfufu
Zigua: mgobe

References

↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2020). "Vitex payos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T147269839A147269841. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T147269839A147269841.en. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
1 2 "Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
↑ Munga Kimondo J; Agea JG; Akais Okia C; Ahmed Abohassan RA; Nghitoolwa Ndeunyema ETN; Woiso DA; Teklehaimanot Z; Mulatya J. "Physiochemical and nutritional characterization of Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr.(Verbenaceae): An indigenous fruit tree of Eastern Africa". Journal of Horticulture and Forestry. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
↑ "Complete Guide; growing black plum (Vitex payos) or the "chocolate berry" in Kenya". farmerstrend.co.ke. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
↑ Dharani, Najma (2019). Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa (3rd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 265. ISBN 9781775846086. OCLC 1107862638.

This Lamiaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[IUCN-1] Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2020). "Vitex payos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T147269839A147269841. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T147269839A147269841.en. Retrieved 14 August 2026.

[POWO-2] 1 2 "Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 August 2026.

[3] Munga Kimondo J; Agea JG; Akais Okia C; Ahmed Abohassan RA; Nghitoolwa Ndeunyema ETN; Woiso DA; Teklehaimanot Z; Mulatya J. "Physiochemical and nutritional characterization of Vitex payos (Lour.) Merr.(Verbenaceae): An indigenous fruit tree of Eastern Africa". Journal of Horticulture and Forestry. Retrieved 13 August 2026.

[4] "Complete Guide; growing black plum (Vitex payos) or the "chocolate berry" in Kenya". farmerstrend.co.ke. Retrieved 13 August 2026.

[5] Dharani, Najma (2019). Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa (3rd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. p. 265. ISBN 9781775846086. OCLC 1107862638.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

This page was redesigned at the edge.

References