Determination of some ecological characteristics and economical importance of Vitex agnus-castus

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to exhibit some of the ecological and economical attributes of Vitex agnus-castus, a typical Mediterranean plant. The study was conducted in two different stages. At first, soil samples of V. agnus-castus were collected from 38 different localities in the Western Anatolian part of Turkey during flowering to investigate the soil properties. It was observed that this plant generally prefers loamy-textured, neutral, and slightly alkaline soils poor in calcium carbonate, containing varying amounts of organic matter, moderate and rich in nitrogen, rich in phosphorus and deficient in potassium. In addition, the economical and ethnobotanical importance of V. agnus-castus was investigated. It was observed that the species is widely used as a pharmaceutical drug, as a dye plant, as a source of honey, as a material in basket weaving, and for ornamental use. It is used in landscape architecture because it is a shrub with beautiful flowers and aroma.