• Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
  • Share Your Kratom Story
  • Contact

Speciosa Guide

Kratom News, Reviews, and How-To's

MENUMENU
  • What Is Kratom?
  • Guides
  • News
  • Reviews
  • How-To's

Kratom and Other Mitragyna Genus Varieties: Are They the Same?

August 11, 2020 by Speciosa Guide Leave a Comment

ShareTweetSign Up

Kratom Mitragyna genus

While Mitragyna speciosa has hogged the limelight in the west, it’s not the only variety of the Mitragyna genus that exists. In fact, there are seven distinct known varieties of Mitragyna. Yet, are they the same? Could you use other plants from the Mitragyna genus as kratom alternatives? Let’s learn more and find out.

Table of Contents

  • The Rubiaceae Plant Family
  • The Mitragyna Genus
    • 1. Mitragyna Speciosa
    • 2. Mitragyna Diversifolia
    • 3. Mitragyna Hirsuta
    • 4. Mitragyna Inermis
    • 5. Mitragyna Parvifolia
    • 6. Mitragyna Rotundifolia
    • 7. Mitragyna Tubulosa
  • Conclusion
    • You May Also Like…

The Rubiaceae Plant Family

Scientists estimate that there are approximately 400 thousand different species of plants that are currently known to us. To classify them, scientists use plant taxonomy, a science of classifying plants.  Each plant belongs to a division, class, order, which are rather wide, as well as family, genus, and species, which are more specific.

When it comes to our beloved Mitragyna speciosa, it belongs to the Angiospermae division of plants that includes flowering plants and the clade of asterids, which includes such popular plants as tomatoes, forget-me-nots, potatoes, peppers, sunflowers, Brazil nut, lavender, lilac, and olive.

Next, Mitragyna speciosa is a member of the Gentianales order and the Rubiaceae family, which includes around 80% of the plants in the order.

Rubiaceae plant family is better known as the Madder or Coffee family of plants. This family mostly includes shrubs, but there are also trees, herbs, and lianas in it. There are approximately 600 different genera and over 13 thousand plant species, most of which grow in tropical and subtropical climates.

In addition to the Mitragyna genus, the Rubiaceae family also includes such plants as the coffee shrub, the Chinchona, which is the source of the antimalarial alkaloid quinine, and the ornamental plant Gardenia.

Best Kratom Quiz

The Mitragyna Genus

1. Mitragyna Speciosa

The most well-known variety of the Mitragyna genus is the speciosa variety, which we refer to as kratom. It grows in various Southeast Asian countries, namely in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea.

Mitragyna speciosa trees are tall, reaching around 82 feet of height. The most prominent alkaloids in this variety are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. They are responsible for kratom’s famous pain-relieving, relaxing effects, mood-boosting, and stimulating effects.

Kratom has a wealth of other alkaloids as well as beneficial compounds, which include polyphenols and flavonoids. Scientists believe that this variety possesses approximately 40 different compounds, including 25 alkaloids. Yet, its full profile is currently not known, and the herb may have more than that.

2. Mitragyna Diversifolia

Also called Mitragyna javanica, this variety of the Mitragyna genus is an understory tree. Mature trees reach approximately 49 feet of height and are nearly half the size of Mitragyna speciosa trees.

Mitragyna_diversifolia grows in several Asian countries, which include Thailand, China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

This Mitragyna genus variety does not contain either mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. However, it is rich in the alkaloid mitrajavine. This alkaloid is also present in speciosa, yet in considerably lower amounts than mitragynine. While no pharmaceutical studies have been performed on this variety, some reports state that it has mild relaxing properties which are much weaker than those of speciosa.

Despite the lack of the pain-relieving properties that you can expect from speciosa, some vendors offer it as a kratom alternative. Keep in mind that you will not be able to gain the same effects, though. This tree is normally used for timber.

3. Mitragyna Hirsuta

Found across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, Mitragyna hirsuta is another species in the Mitragyna genus.

Unlike Mitragyna speciosa, which is rich in alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the dominant compound in Mitragyna hirsuta is mitraphylline. This alkaloid is also present in Mitragyna speciosa and the bark of Cat’s claw.

Some studies performed on this alkaloid show that it can serve as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent.

Despite the beneficial properties of this alkaloid, the effects of Mitragyna hirsuta are not equivalent to those you can expect from speciosa. Some users report experiencing mild relaxing effects as well as headaches, others none at all. So, it’s best that you do not try it as an alternative to kratom.

4. Mitragyna Inermis

Mitragyna inermis is a bushy shrub or a tree that reaches about 50 feet in height. Unlike other Mitrogyna genus trees, it grows in the African continent.

A variety of alkaloids are present in the leaves of this variety, yet it does not have mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. Locals use this tree as wood and plant dye.

5. Mitragyna Parvifolia

This species of the Mitragyna genus grows in India and Sri Lanka and reaches around 50 feet of height when mature. People in these locations use it as wood.

Some of the alkaloids present in this variety, such as mitraphylline, are also present in kratom. However, this variety doesn’t have the primary kratom alkaloids 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine. Locals use this plant in traditional medicine to treat jaundice and inflammatory conditions such as swelling, fever, ulcers, and similar.

While this variety has some beneficial uses and effects, they are not identical to those of kratom.

6. Mitragyna Rotundifolia

Indigenous to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, China, India, and the Philippines, this tree’s primary alkaloids are completely different from those found in other Mitragyna species. Nonetheless, studies have indicated that this variety has antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and liver-protecting properties.

While these can be potentially beneficial, this species does not offer the same effects as Mitragyna speciosa.

7. Mitragyna Tubulosa

This Mitragyna species grows across India and Sri Lanka. The leaves of the tubulosa are rich in mitracilliatine, an alkaloid different from mitragynine or 7-hydroxymitragynine. Yet, there are few reports on the effects and properties of this alkaloid, and beneficial uses of this tree are not currently known.

Conclusion

While Mitragyna speciosa isn’t the only tree in the Mitragyna genus and, apart from being considerably taller when mature, it’s visually not much different from the other varieties. Yet, the alkaloid profile of each tree is vastly different.

While each individual variety has beneficial properties, the other Mitragyna varieties won’t provide the same effects as Mitragyna speciosa and won’t be as effective alternatives.

Have you tried other varieties of the Mitragyna genus? What has your experience been, and what effects, if any, have you felt?

You May Also Like...

  • Kratom and Hormones: Does Kratom Affect Hormones?

    While kratom has numerous beneficial effects, some people have noticed that kratom effects are different during periods or influence their sex drive. So, they start wondering whether kratom affects their hormones. Studies on Kratom and…

  • kratom smoothie
    5 Kratom Drink Recipes that Are Not Kratom Tea

    Kratom has numerous benefits and can be taken in a variety of ways. Kratom tea is one of the most popular of them. You can make kratom tea by simply simmering kratom in hot water.…

  • Kratom Side Effects: Is Kratom Safe?
    Kratom Side Effects: Is Kratom Safe?

    Kratom side effects is definitely a topic you’ve come across doing a simple online search. You may even feel hesitant about taking kratom after reading some of the highest-ranking articles on the topic. There’s lots…

ShareTweetSign Up

Filed Under: Guides

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • pinterest

Receive the Latest News in Your Inbox!

Buy Kratom from Our Top Recommended Vendor

Buy Kratom Powder Online Kraoma

Latest Blog Posts

  • Kratom dizzinessKratom Dizziness: What Can You Do?
    January 19, 2021
  • How to Take KratomHow to Take Kratom: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do
    January 12, 2021
  • Trainwreck kratomTrainwreck Kratom: A New Potent Strain or a Hoax?
    January 8, 2021
  • Smoke kratom and weedCan You Smoke Kratom and Weed Together
    December 29, 2020
  • Kratom for seniors7 Outstanding Benefits of Kratom for Seniors
    December 22, 2020

Download Our FREE Ebook

Popular Blog Posts

  • How to make kratom extract How to Make Kratom Extract At Home
  • Kratom and Magnesium Kratom and Magnesium: Which Magnesium to Choose?
  • Man experiencing kratom stomach pain Kratom Stomach Pain and What to Do About It
  • Kratom Drug Interactions Kratom Drug Interactions: What to Avoid?
  • Kratom Overdose Kratom Overdose: Can You Overdose on Kratom?

Share Your Kratom Story

Copyright © 2021 · Speciosa Guide All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.