ဘင်္ဂ

Myanmar Name – Binga

Common Name – Mitha Ithi, Mitragyna Parvifolia

Botanical Name – Mitragyna rotundifolia (Roxb.)Kuntze

Family Name – Rubiaceae

Habitat – Found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent and typically grows in lowland rainforests and wetlands in Myanmar.

Habit – Medium sized trees; branches angled to subterete, glabrous to glabrescent and can grow to a height of 15 to 30 meters (approximately 49 to 98 feet). The DBH can range from 30 to 60 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) or more.

Bark – Rough and fissured, with an irregular, scaly texture. It may form small plates or ridges.

Leaves – Leaves simple, dark green, and have a glossy appearance opposite and decussate; stipules elliptic-oblong to ovate.

Inflorescence – Typically, a cyme, the exact number of flowers rotundifolia inflorescence can vary, but cymes often have several flowers.

Flower – Small and fragrant, usually white to cream in color, and are typically bisexual. Fruiting heads ca. 1-1.6 cm in diam. Capsules ca. 0.3-0.5 cm, weakly ridged, with persistent calyx thickened; seeds ca. 0.1 cm.

Fruit & Seed – Initially green but turns dark purple or black when mature, the size of the fruit can vary, but it is typically small and rounded, similar to a drupe and the exact dimensions of the fruit would depend on the specific tree and its age, generally round or oval in shape.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – Flowering time from May to July and Fruiting time from August to October.

Usage – A medicinal plant used for its properties in reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, reducing fever, possessing antimicrobial activity, treating diarrhea, managing diabetes, having antioxidant effects, and healing wounds.