VITEN; a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Vitacem, the vine tribe. The species known to occur in India are--V. agnuscastus, alata, altissima, arborea, haynga, heterophylla, incisa, leucoxylon, negundo, peduncularis, pubes cens, saligna, trifolia. One species, a native of Kaghan, and called Bankahu, has a wood used for making large dishes. Another, Kjeyoh, BURM., furnishes one of the woods of Burma, used for tool-handles, and much prized ; a cubic foot weighs. 45 lbs. The ancients considered the Vitex anti aphrodisiac ; the berries, from their warm aromatic taste, must be possessed of stimulant properties. Vitex agnuscastus, a native of the south of Europe, is the longest known species; in the month of February,in the tropical region below Darjeeling, it grows in profusion by the road-side, and the air is scented with its white blossoms. It forms a
shrub of about 12 feet in height The flowers are arranged in spiked whorls. The fruit is globular, rather smaller than black pepper, with an acrid and aromatic taste, whence it is called Petit Poivrc 'Sauvage in the south of France. The seeds are inodorous when entire, but when bruised their odour is acrid and disagreeable, the taste acrid and pepperish, very persistent. They are very rich in essential oil, and possess powerful stimu lating properties. A t Smyrna the powder strewed over sliced onion and applied to the stomach is deemed a certain remedy in colic. In India the fruits of V. triphylla and V. negundo have the same properties ascribed to them, and are called Filfil Burree (large pepper). — Rohde, .31S.5. ; Hooker, H. Jour. p. 374 ; O'Sh. p. 485.