Mitragyna stipulosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fleroya stipulosa
• Nauclea bracteosa
• Adina ledermannii
• Hallea stipulosa
• Fleroya ledermannii
• Nauclea stipulosa
• Adina stipulosa
• Hallea ledermannii
• Mamboga stipulosa
• Mitragyna ledermannii
• Mitragyna chevalieri

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Mitragyna, specifically as the species Mitragyna stipulosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Mitragyna stipulacea, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends to the nation of Gambia. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its natural range includes the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mitragyna stipulosa is fundamentally defined by its preference for swampy forest environments, where it thrives in high-moisture conditions. This species is specialized to inhabit riparian zones and seasonally inundated woodland ecosystems, where the soil remains consistently damp or waterlogged. Within these swampy forest habitats, the plant plays a critical role in the local hydrological cycle and nutrient cycling, often occupying the sub-canopy or understory layers where it benefits from the high humidity and filtered light characteristic of wetland forest structures. The presence of such dense, moist vegetation provides a stabilized microclimate that supports its growth patterns, making it an integral component of the biodiversity found in tropical and subtropical freshwater-influenced forest landscapes.

Habitat :

swampy forest

Life history

The life history of Mitragyna stipulosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting life forms consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte categories, indicating that its buds and growing points are elevated above the ground level, typically on woody stems or branches.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mitragyna stipulosa is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, exhibiting a robust and self-supporting growth form. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant reaches significant heights in its natural habitat, with a minimum recorded height of approximately 6.10 meters, a mean height of 30 meters, and a maximum height extending up to 42.67 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

42.6725189 m

Plant height mean:

30 m

Plant height min:

6.096074128 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mitragyna stipulosa is characterized by complex metabolic pathways that facilitate its growth in tropical environments, primarily through specialized photosynthetic processes and nutrient uptake mechanisms. As an angiosperm, its physiological functions are centered on the synthesis of various bioactive alkaloids within its vegetative tissues, a process driven by its internal enzymatic activities. Regarding its interaction with soil nutrients, the plant does not exhibit the capacity for symbiotic nitrogen fixation; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. Instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to support its metabolic requirements and protein synthesis. Its physiological resilience is further defined by its ability to manage transpiration rates and maintain osmotic balance, ensuring cellular stability amidst fluctuating environmental conditions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mitragyna stipulosa is characterized by a highly flexible flowering phenology and the production of extremely minute seeds. The flowering period is notably variable, with the potential to initiate and conclude during any month of the year, including January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Regarding its seed characteristics, the species produces exceptionally small seeds with a highly consistent mass. The seed mass remains uniform across its developmental range, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at approximately 3.9e-05 g.

Flowering time :

Feb

Seed mass mean:

3.9e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Mitragyna stipulosa has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OLEANOLIC ACID, Quinovic acid, Ursolic acid, alpha-Amyrin, beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside.

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Natural product letters

Quinovic acid

1. Natural product letters

Ursolic acid

1. Natural product letters

alpha-Amyrin

1. Natural product letters

beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside

1. Natural product letters

triterpenoids

1. Natural product letters

Conditions

Mitragyna stipulosa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae

1. Journal of diarrhoeal diseases research