Kingdom Plantae Family Rubiaceae Tribe Naucleeae Scientific name Mitragyna parviflora | Order Gentianales Subfamily Cinchonoideae Genus Mitragyna Rank Species | |
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Similar Mitragyna, Sterculia villosa, Haldina cordifolia, Diospyros melanoxylon, Cupressus funebris | ||
Kadamb kaim or mitragyna parvifolia trees in bharatpur or keoladeo ghana
Mitragyna parvifolia is a tree species found in Asia. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. Mitragyna species are used medicinally as well as for their fine timber throughout the areas they grow. It reaches heights of 50 feet with a branch spread of over 15 feet. The stem is erect and branching. Flowers are yellow and grow in ball-shaped clusters. Leaves are a dark green in color, smooth, rounded in shape, and opposite in growth pattern.
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Traditional Uses
Mitragyna parvifolia fresh leaves sap is used by the tribals in treatment of jaundice in the Chenchus, Yerukalas, Yanadis and Sugalis of Gundur District, Andhra Pradesh. Its leaves alleviate pain, swelling and for better healing from wounds and ulcers. M. parvifolia stem bark is used in treatment of biliousness and muscular pains by the local inhabitant of Tumkur district, Karnataka, India. The tribals of Sonaghati of Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh to heal fever by decoction of the M. parvifolia bark. Valaiyans tribe, population of Sirumalai hills, Madurai district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu utilize stem bark of M. parvifolia for rheumatic pain. The bark and roots used to treat fever, colic, muscular pain, burning sensation, poisoning, gynecological disorders, cough, edema and as an aphrodisiac. The fruit juice augments the quantities of breast milk in lactating mothers and also work as lactodepurant.
The caterpillars of the commander (Limenitis procris), a brush-footed butterfly, utilize this species as a food plant.
