Cuajado Fiddlewood -The forest spirit bestows beauty and firm steps-

Other names: Yellow manwood

Botanical name: Vitex cooperi (Verbenaceae)

THE HANDSOME AND GREAT FLOWER TREE

Vitex family trees are sometimes called Fiddlewood. This species of the family is native to Central America and is called there Cuajado. When blooming with its light bluish-purple flowers, the tree reminds you of a silvery forest spirit. Cuajado grows approximately one meter per year, reaching 30 m (98 ft) in height and 60 cm (2 ft) in trunk diameter. The trunk color is light silvery-gray, almost white. Cuajado’s wood is hard and shiny. The light brown wood has fascinating, dark waves of lines. Because of its beauty and durability, the wood is in great demand for parquet material.

THE FLOWERS CHARM WITH THE COLOR AND SCENT – THE BLACKBERRIES ATTRACT JUNGLE BIRDS

Cuajado blooms and bears fruit from March to September. Fragrant and tiny lilac flowers growing in clusters have a surreal quality. The berries, also growing in clusters, are small, green and the size of a redcurrant. As they ripen the berries turn black. The beautiful tropical birds spend time in the tree as the sweet berries are ripening. The sweet berries however are not suitable food for humans.

MODERN RESEARCH

Cuajado is not commonly used in traditional medicine. Modern medicine, on the other hand, has discovered some important ingredients in Cuajado. Scientific studies show that the bark contains substances that kill the tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis).