Kratom refers to one of the most prominent native trees found in specific areas in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Also known as Ketum or Kratum, locals consider Kratom as one of the most sacred trees due to its powerful therapeutic and relaxing properties. Because of this, the leaves of Kratom have been used for centuries as a religious symbol in various rituals and ceremonies as an ornament and medicine.
The scientific name of Kratom tree is Mitragyna Speciosa. It is a member of the Rubiaceae family and belongs to the Mitragyna species. Its height ranges between 12 and 30 feet, although the biggest Kratom tree discovered reached a majestic height of 95 feet, with a width of about 15 feet, which is the leafiest and thickest at that point.
The leaves of Kratom tree are dark green and feature a shiny, glossy appearance and an oval, acuminate shape that is unique. The average measurement of the Kratom leaf is 4-inch wide and 7-inch long. The color of the leaf vein also vary. They are commonly milky, or light green often referred as a white or green vein. In some places, they also have a light red vein.
An average dried leaf of the Kratom tree is weighted to be in the range of 0.5 to 2 grams. It the stage of its climax and maturity, it can grow as many as 100 to 120 of lush yellow floral petals in a rounded form. Kratom yields a uniquely beautiful fruit that has a capsulated oval shape, inside of which it harnesses evenly small flat seeds.
The Kratom tree is evergreen; its flowers grow and evolve in shape over time. With the passage of time, its leaves fall down due to the change of seasons and environment and are then replaced with new ones naturally when the right ideal environmental conditions come back again. The fact that Kratom’s tree is evergreen, makes it a much more stable and sustainable source for harvesting more often in time and quantity.
The leaves of the Kratom tree are qualitative. The fall of leaves is observed in the dry season, while as soon as the season of the rain overtakes the dryness, re-growth of the leaves is initiated and enhanced with time. Typically, the leaves of the Kratom tree starts shedding and falling down at the temperature of about 39-40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Decades ago, a famous Dutch botanist, Dr. Peter Willem Korthals took the opportunity to document the tree of Kratom officially for the first time. In his research, Dr. Korthals named the genus of the Kratom Tree after being inspired by the exceptional shape of the stigmas of its first species, which reminded him of the shape of the saintly miter the bishop wears. There are plenty of other species of the Kratom tree discovered in the other parts of the world as well, such as West Africa and India from Asia, Including; M. Parvifolia, M. Stipulosa, M. Diversifolia, M. Tubulosa, M. Africanus, M. Rotundifolia, M. Ciliate, M. Kuntze, M. Inermis and M. Hirsuta.
Scientists have derived more than 25 Alkaloids from the essence of the leaf of Kratom, and the research is ever growing into newer levels, each day. The richest of alkaloids contains two oxindoles (as known as speciofoline and mitraphylline) and three indoles (as known as paynanthine, mitragynine and speciogynine) out of which the paynanthine and mitragynie are exclusive to their species. The other remaining alkaloids left also contain different oxindoles and indoles, including, stipulatine corynanthedine, rhychophylline, mitraversine and ajmalicine.
*Please refer to the Real Kratom Alkaloids page for a comprehensively detailed list of the Kratom leaves Alkaloids and their properties.
The Speciosa of Mitragyna
* Scientific Classification and Brief Specifications of Kratom
Species | M. Speciosa |
Division | Magnoliophyta |
Kingdom | Plantae |
Class | Magnoliopsida |
Order | Gentianales |
Family | Rubiaceae |
Genus | Mitragyna |
For a more detailed overview of the general specifications, details, and types of Kratom, please visit:
Varieties of Kratom
Kratom Types Strains
Kratom Alkaloids
*To gain a deeper and more precise knowledge about Kratom, please visit Kratom Articles and Research page.