Mitragyna spp.

Specifications

Family

Rubiaceae

Species

Mitragyna spp.

Common name

Mitragyna spp.
Commonly known as

Description

It is pinkish-brown in color, with slightly lighter sapwood, a fine, compact texture, straight grain, and a density between 0.46 and 0.70. The tissues contain a lot of silica, which easily dulls working tools. Mechanical resistance is fair to good, but durability is very poor, especially due to insect attack.

Plant morphology

A tree-like species, it can reach a height of 30 m. The branches have opposite, decussate leaves, with initially narrow stipules protecting the apical buds. The inflorescence can consist of up to 120 small umbels, each surrounded by numerous bracts that completely cover it during development. The fruit is a capsule containing numerous small, flat seeds with a small wing.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Tropical and sub-tropical West Africa: Senegal, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, Liberia, Togo, Benin.

Habitat and ecology

These species prefer marshy and riparian areas, generally with good water supply. M. stipulosa prefers gallery forests in savannahs; it is a heliophilous species and is dispersed by the wind.

Uses

Use class

CU1

CU2

CU3

CU4

CU5

Application areas

It is used for interior carpentry, foundry models, frames, turned objects, containers for acid chemical solutions, plywood.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

M. stipulosa is at risk of extinction due to habitat loss.

Conservation measures

M. stipulosa is preserved in various protected areas and in three ex situ collections (BGCI 2020). In Zambia and Uganda, it is included in the national red lists where it is classified as Vulnerable.

IUCN Red List IUCN

At the moment only M. stipulosa is included in the IUCN Red Lists, and is classified as NT - Near threatened (2020).

CITES. Year of assessment CITES

CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento

Not present.

Technical data

Aesthetic characteristics

Grain

Not obvious

Texture

Fine

Physical and mechanical properties

Density
ρ

600 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

78 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

11020 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Not durable

Insect resistance

Not resistant

Miscellaneous

Abura is a wood obtained from the species: Mitragyna ciliata Aubr. & Pellegr., M. rubrostipulacea Harv., M. stipulosa Kntze. Of a completely different origin is kratom, an Asian wood obtained from Mytrogyna speciosa.