Khtum tuk, Puri
Mitragyna speciosa

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 8-15 m tall. It can be 25 m tall. The bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are papery. They are oval with a rounded or heart shaped base. They are 3-20 cm long by 2-12 cm wide. There are 11-17 pairs of secondary veins.

The leaves have been found to stimulate an opioid response.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest along rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The very bitter leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are claimed to be a substitute for opium and poisonous in large doses. CAUTION: The plant contains an alkaloid.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bein-sa

Synonyms

Stephegyne parvifolia Korth.;