CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

KADAMB

Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.

Botanical name	: Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.
Synonym	: Stephegyne parvifolia
Vernacular name	: Kaim, Kadamb
Family	: Rubiaceae (coffee Family)
About the Tree	: Kadambis indigenous to northern India. Found in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa.
Height	: Up to 20 m
Bark	: Bark pale grey, smooth, Yellowish below and flaked off to form irregular shallow pits when mature.
Leaf	: Leaves simple, opposite, decussate, apex abruptly acuminate with blunt tip, rarely acute, base acute to attenuate to subcordate, margin entire
Flower	: Flowers are tiny, sessile fragrant, 5 petalled ; calyx lobes short arranged in dense spherical heads, 2-3 mm wide, cream-white. Heads solitary or in the sets of 3, long white styles protrude from tiny flowers to make the heads look spiky.
Fruits	: 100-150 tiny capsules, arranged in globose heads, brown at first after ripening turns black, may be solitary or in the sets of 3.
Season	: Leaves shed out from January, trees are bare in February-March. Leaves renewed in April. Flowers between may and July with a lovely fragrance. Fruit ripen in the winters but remain on tree even after discharging seeds.
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: In traditional Indian medicine, bark and roots used for fevers, muscular pains, stomach burning, poisoning, gynecological problems, cough and edema. Bruised leaves used to promote healing of wounds and ulcers and to alleviate pain.