Mitragyna parvifolia - Nirkkatampu - Flowers of Tamilnadu

❏ Binomial Name : Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.

❏ Synonym : Stephegyne parvifolia,Nauclea parvifolia

❏ Family : Rubiaceae

❏ Common Name : Kaim

❏ Tamil Name : Nirkkatampu

❏ Hindi Name : Kaim

❏ IUCN status: Not Evaluated

Mitragyna parvifolia Botanical Description

Deciduous trees, to 25 m high, bark 20-25 mm thick, grey-black, smooth exfoliations thin, irregular, fibrous; blaze pink, traversed by whitish rays; branchlets subterete. Leaves simple, opposite, decussate; stipules 1 cm long, interpetiolar, ovate-oblong or obovate, foliaceous, membranous, cauducous; petiole 10-40 mm long, stout, grooved above, glabrous; lamina 5-16 cm x 2.5-10 cm, variable, ovate, orbicular, elliptic or ovate-oblong, base obtuse, attenuate, acute or subcordate, apex obtuse or round; margin entire, glabrous, coriaceous; lateral nerves 6-10 pairs, pinnate, prominent beneath; intercostae scalariform, slender; domatia present. Flowers bisexual, creamy white, 10-12 mm long, in terminal heads; peduncle supported by a pair of bract like oblong leaves; bracteoles small, subulate; calyx tube short, truncate, rim even; corolla tube funnel shaped, 8 mm long, villous inside, lobes 4-5 oblong, reflexed; stamens 5, attached towards the apex of corolla tube; anthers apiculate; ovary 2-celled, inferior, ovules many; style filiform; stigma mitriform, hollow at base. Fruit capsules in globose heads, 2-3 mm long, ribbed, separating in to two cocci, brown; seeds many, small, 10-ribbed. Fl. &Fr.: March-December.

Mitragyna parvifolia Medicinal uses

❀ The bark used for medicinal purposes. Flute is made from the wood of the tree. Leaves used as fodder.

❀ The bark and roots are used in the treatment of fevers and colic

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