Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus L.)

Fruits.

Verbenaceae (vervain family).

Aromatic, but weak aroma; slightly pungent and bitter taste.

Chaste Tree Flower

Chaste Tree flower (Albino)

White-flowered chaste tree inflorescence

The dried fruits contain only small amounts (0.5%) of essential oil, which is dominated by the monoterpene derivatives limonene, 1,8-cineol, bornyl acetate, α- and β-pinene and sabinene. The bitter and astringent taste is caused by flavonoids (castican, orientin and isovitexin) and iridoid glycosides (agnuside, aucubin).

Medi­terranean.

Chaste tree carries several sacred names, which more or less directly refer to its reputation as an anaphrodisiac. In ancient Greece, the tree was called agnos [ἄγνος], which apparently the early Christians confused both with a similar Greek term hagnos [ἁγνός] chaste, and with Latin agnus lamb, the Christian symbol of purity. Under the name agnus castus chaste lamb, the plants was often used among Christian monks as a help against the evils of the more fleshy desires, of which there were many.

Chaste tree inflorescence

White chaste tree inflorescence

Chaste tree (sterile plant)

Still today, there are many names in European lan­guages alluding to this use of chaste tree (which, I keep hearing, is not so much in demand now). There are several names meaning tree of chastity (English chaste tree or Dutch kuisboom) or monk’s pepper (French poivre des moines, Maltese bżar tal-Patrijiet, Estonian munga­pipar). Another group of names refers to the Biblical patriarch Abraham: Russian Avraamovo derevo [Авраамово дерево] Abraham’s tree, Hebrew siah avraham [שיח-אברהם] Abraham’s bush and last but not least English Abraham’s balm (see lemon balm about balm).

The genus name Vitex allegedly derived from Latin vitilis made by plaiting, because the flexible branches of the tree were used in the construction of plaited fences (note that willow has similar seman­tics). Compare also Modern Greek lygagria [λυγαγριά], probably related to Old Greek lygizein [λυγίζειν] bend (see also garlic for further related words).

Nature One Health: Chaste Tree Floridata.com: Chaste Tree Herb Monographs: Chaste Tree (stevenfoster.com) Gewürz-Bazar: Möchspfeffer