''Mitragyna parvifolia'' is a
tree species found in
Asia,
native to
India and
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
. ''Mitragyna'' species are used medicinally and for their fine timber throughout the areas where they grow. ''M. parvifolia'' reaches heights of 50 feet with a branch spread 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.
Traditional uses
''Mitragyna parvifolia'' fresh leaf 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 and swelling, and are used for better healing from wounds and ulcers. Its 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 heal fever by a decoction of the ''M. parvifolia'' bark. Valaiyans tribe, population of Sirumalai hills, Madurai district, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu use stem bark for rheumatic pain. The bark and roots are used to treat fever, colic, muscular pain, burning sensation, poisoning, gynecological disorders, cough, and edema, and as an aphrodisiac. The fruit juice augments the quantities of breast milk in lactating mothers and also works as lactodepurant.
The
caterpillar
Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).
As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...
s of the
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
(''Limenitis procris''), a
brush-footed butterfly, use this species as a food plant.
In religion
According to ancient literature, this is the 'true Kadam' which is associated with Lord Krishna in ''Vrindavana'', rather than the well-known tree
Neolamarckia cadamba. But this is definitely a case of mistaken identity. Neolamarckia Cadamba is not found naturally in the hot, dry ''Vrindavana'' region. ''M. parviflora'' is not only native to the ''Vrindavana'' forests but is their dominant tree. Interestingly, ''M. parviflora'' are still found almost everywhere in ''Vrindavana''.
Gallery
Image:Kaim (Mitragyna parviflora) W IMG 1233.jpg, At Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India
Image:Kaim (Mitragyna parviflora) Trunk W IMG 1230.jpg, Trunk at Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India
Image:Kaim (Mitragyna parviflora)- old tree W IMG 1156.jpg, Old tree at Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India
Image:Kaim (Mitragyna parviflora)- Young tree W IMG 1229.jpg, Young tree at Hodal in Faridabad district of Haryana, India
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-01.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-02.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-03.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-04.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-05.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-06.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-07.JPG
Image:Mitragyna parvifolia-09.JPG
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q6019715
Naucleeae
Flora of the Indian subcontinent