Milla

• Common Name In Sri Lanka:

  Milla

• Scientific Name:

  Vitex altissima

• Other Names:

• Zone:

• Size of Tree:

• Status:

• Average Height:

  

  Up to 33 meters

• Identification

  Tree with vertically cracked bark and a spreading canopy. Young twigs are somewhat droopy, four-sided and hairy. The trifoliolate leaves are arranged in opposites with a winged petiole. The central leaflet is slightly larger than the others at 10-20 cm long, 3-7 cm broad, while the others are about 4-10 cm long, 3-5 cm broad, ovate-elliptic in shape with a tapered base and a long, pointed apex. The flowers are about 5 mm, two-lipped, whitish, lavender blue or bluish purple in colour, borne in clusters at the terminal ends of the twigs. Fruits are about 1 cm, blackish brown when ripe, and contain a single seed.

  
  

• Habitat

  Less degraded areas of forest.
  

  
  

• Special Notes

  Native tree. The wood is a valuable timber. Also grown in home gardens.