Wednesday, March 16, 2011

நொச்சி (ஐந்திலை) The Vitex negundo

The நொச்சி (ஐந்திலை) Vitex negundo seems to have a lesser appearance in Singapore than its 'close cousin' the Vitex trifolia, which I have mentioned earlier in this blog.

The Vitex negundo seen at Serangoon Avenue 1, Singapore.

The obvious difference between two species being the V. trifolia has leaflets 3-foliate and glossy - while the V. negundo has 3-5 (rarely 3) and dull.

A five-lobed leaf of the Vitex negundo.

The flowers of the Nochi in terminal clusters.

Nochi, the Tamil name, commonly refers to this plant, the five-lobed Vitex negundo. It is the 'prefered nochi' in traditional medicine probably due to the stronger scent its leaves have, which they readily release even when brushed against.

But the Vitex trifolia is a more common house-plant in Singapore as it has a neater appearance, I think.