Rubiaceae FAMILY

Mitragyna speciosa

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves are habit-forming, and extended use leads to anorexia, weight loss, darkened and dry skin, and in some cases even to psychosis[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. In Myanmar, the leaves are known to induce stupor when taken in case of an overdose[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].

Botanical Description

Mitragyna speciosa is a large, briefly deciduous or evergreen tree, growing 10 - 30 metres tall with a bole 60 - 100cm in diameter[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. The plant is often used medicinally in parts of southeast Asia, where it is also used as a substitute for opium[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. It is cultivated for its leaves in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. , 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

HabitatOpen savannah and secondary forest, at low elevations[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ]. In Borneo, it is usually encountered in swamp and riverine forests which are periodically flooded, where it is one of the dominant species colonizing vegetation on old ox-bow riverbeds[ 310 Title Plant Resources of Southeast Asia Publication Author Website http://proseanet.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia. ].