Nirgundi / Common Chaste
Vitex negundo
Also known as Five-Leaved Chaste Tree, Negundo, Negundo Chastetree
- Habit
- Shrub
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & more
- Flowering
- January-September
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Vitex negundo
- Genus
- Vitex
- Family
- Verbenaceae
- Habit
- Shrub
- Habitat
- Common in all areas along streams, roadside and fencing villages
- Distribution
- India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Himalayas, Myanmar, Malesia, Indo-China
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan
- Flowering & fruiting
- January-September
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Opposite
Recorded for Nirgundi.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Verbenaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- भूतवेशी Bhut-Veshi, नदीकान्त Nadi-Kant, इन्द्राणी Indrani,निर्गुंडी nirgundi
- Nepali
- इन्द्रायणी Indraayanee, सिमली Simalee
- Bengali
- নিসিন্দা Nishinda, নিশিন্দা, নিসিন্দা
- Tamil
- கருநொச்சி Karu-Nocchi, நொச்சி Nocchi, வெண்ணொச்சி Vennocchi, நொச்சி
- Telugu
- నల్ల వావిలి Nalla Vaavili, నిర్గుండి Nirgundi, శంబళి Sambali
- Kannada
- ಬಿಳಿಲಕ್ಕಿ Bililakki, ಇಂದ್ರಾಣಿ Indrani, ಕರಿ ಲಕ್ಕಿ Karilakki
- Malayalam
- കരിനൊച്ചി Karinochi, നൊച്ചി Nochi, കരിനൊച്ചി
- Marathi
- इंद्राणी Indrani, लिंगुर Lingur, निगूड Niguda, निरगुडी
- Gujarati
- સિંધવર
- Odia
- ନିର୍ଗୁଣ୍ଡି
- Punjabi
- ਨਿਰਗੁੰਡੀ
- Assamese
- নিসিন্দা
- Urdu
- سنگھار
Nirgundi in India
Nirgundi is a common aromatic shrub of riverbanks and waste ground, valued in Ayurveda — भूतवेशी Bhut-Veshi (Hindi), கருநொச்சி Karu-Nocchi (Tamil), నల్ల వావిలి Nalla Vaavili (Telugu), ಬಿಳಿಲಕ್ಕಿ Bililakki (Kannada), കരിനൊച്ചി Karinochi (Malayalam), इंद्राणी Indrani (Marathi). Vitex negundo is recorded across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, often forming thickets along water.
Uses
Its leaves are a well-known traditional remedy associated with joint and muscle pain in Ayurveda — an attributed use described for information, not medical advice. The aromatic leaves are also used as a grain protectant, and the shrub is planted to bind riverbanks.
How to Identify Nirgundi
A large aromatic shrub with grey, downy twigs and leaves divided palmately into (usually) five lance-shaped leaflets — the central one largest. It bears slender branched spikes of small bluish-purple flowers; crushed leaves are strongly scented.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Common Chaste called in different Indian languages?
- भूतवेशी Bhut-Veshi (Hindi); கருநொச்சி Karu-Nocchi (Tamil); నల్ల వావిలి Nalla Vaavili (Telugu); ಬಿಳಿಲಕ್ಕಿ Bililakki (Kannada); കരിനൊച്ചി Karinochi (Malayalam); इंद्राणी Indrani (Marathi); নিসিন্দা Nishinda (Bengali); સિંધવર (Gujarati); ନିର୍ଗୁଣ୍ଡି (Odia); ਨਿਰਗੁੰਡੀ (Punjabi).
- What is nirgundi used for?
- Nirgundi leaves are a classical Ayurvedic remedy associated with joint and muscle pain; this is a traditional, attributed use and not medical advice.
- How do you identify nirgundi?
- Look for an aromatic shrub with leaves split into five lance-shaped leaflets and slender spikes of small bluish-purple flowers, usually near water.
Verbenaceae
Verbena/Teak family
Nirgundi belongs to the Verbenaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Verbenaceae family →Snap it. Know it.
Point your camera at Nirgundi or any plant and SASYA identifies it instantly — on-device, offline, and private.
Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Verbenaceae
View all Verbenaceae →Sources: GBIF — Vitex negundo (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Vitex negundo (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Vitex negundo (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)