Kratom, mitragyna speciosa, is part of the Rubiaceae family of plants. As impressive as kratom might be, there are plenty of other plants that are a part of the family that are amazing in their own rights. For example, coffee is a part of the same family as kratom.
The Rubiaceae Family
The Rubiaceae family is quite large and it includes trees, such as the kratom tree, as well as lianas, and herbs. Most of the plants that are a part of this family are shrubs. The classification of plants is sometimes known as the bedstraw family, madder family, or even the coffee family. There are 611 genera in the family, along with around 13,500 species. Compare this to mammals. The Mammalian family only has about half the number of species as Rubiaceae.
A large number of the plants that are part of this family are found in tropical and subtropical regions that are humid. This is true of kratom, which grows mainly in Southeast Asia. Many of the other plants in the family are found in places like New Guinea, Venezuela, and Colombia. The family is surprising though. Some species will grow outside of those locations and will have a wide distribution. However, they do not grow in areas that are especially cold or that are dry.
What is it that helps to distinguish the plants in this family? Typically, the leave will be simple and opposite. The leaf blades will be elliptical, and they will have endospermic seeds. While kratom is popular, it’s not the only well-known plant in the family. In addition to coffee, the flowering plant genus that includes some species that produce coffee beans, there are plenty of others including Breonadia Salicina, Carapichea Ipecacuanha, and Cinchona.
Family Traits
What is it that helps to make so many of the plants in this family so interesting? One of the big factors that help to set many of the plants apart is the alkaloids they include. The alkaloids are found in many plants. They are natural organic compounds, and they can have significant pharmacological properties.
Caffeine is well known for this. It is one of the most popular and most consumed substances on the planet. It is an alkaloid that is found in the beans of the coffee plant, and it acts as a stimulant. Coffee plants are grown in many tropical regions around the world including Asia, South America, and Africa. The biggest producers and exporters of coffee in the world include Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam.
Breonadia Salicina is a genus of plants that have antibacterial and antidiarrheal properties. They are often found in traditional medicine in Africa and have been used to help people who have issues with their gastrointestinal system. Some of the conditions it has been used to treat include E. coli infections and diarrhea.
Carapichea ipecacuanha is a plant that is found in Central and South America. It is used to make syrup of ipecac, which is often used in a medical setting as a means to make someone vomit. For example, it might be used if someone swallowed poison or too many pills. The alkaloids cephaeline and emetine are what create the vomit-inducing effects.
While ipecac was popular for many years, it is not used as often today. Doctors often look for other methods to help patients who have been poisoned.
Cinchona is a genus of plants found throughout South America, and the plants have been important to the medicines created by indigenous people in those areas. Several species of this plant have important alkaloids. One of the alkaloids is found in the bark. It’s called quinine, and it has been used as a method for treating malaria for centuries. Researchers are still interested in the alkaloids in these plains for treating malaria because it works so well. Malaria often develops resistance to man made drugs, but the alkaloids in cinchona are still effective.
A Powerful Botanical Family
Kratom has been used for centuries, but there has been little research into this plant. The family has been around since sometime in the Late Cretaceous or Paleocene age, according to researchers. They have found fossilized evidence that puts the age of plants in the Rubiaceae family around 49 million years old.
The first recorded history of kratom was from 1839 by Pieter Korthals, a Dutch botanist. However, just because that is the first known recorded information about kratom, it is quite likely that it was known to local populations for much longer. Other plants in the family have been used and documented for much longer. Some of the first known references to coffee date back to the 1400s in Yemen.
Today, plants that are a part of the same family as kratom have become popular with people all across the globe. Coffee, for example, is popular nearly everywhere. The coffee industry alone is estimated to be around $20 billion annually. Other members of the family are used in the cosmetic industry. Others are used to create different color dyes.
While kratom remained in the shadows in the West for many years, this has started to change recently. It has started to become more popular and people are interested in seeing what it has to offer.
Buying Quality Kratom
Many people want to buy and try kratom. The plant in powder and capsule form can be found through online kratom vendors. However, this does not mean that all of the vendors have quality products. When buying kratom, the buyers need to take the time to learn more about the company that is selling the product. They need to find a company that can provide quality, pure kratom that has been lab-tested. This helps to ensure that the kratom is free from contaminants and that it is safe to purchase. Additionally, there are different types and colors of kratom. These can have different purposes. It is always important for buyers to understand what they are buying before they make their purchase.