Mitragyna parvifolia, kaim, is a deciduous tree of riverbanks and seasonally wet ground in dry parts of India, with small round flower heads like a kadamba’s. Some scholars think the kadamba of Vrindavan in classical texts was this tree. It is a cousin of kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, but it is a different species.
- Botanical name
- Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Tamil
- Neer kadambam
- Hindi
- Kaim
- Parts used
- Flowers (scent)
- Habit
- River-bank Rubiaceae; kadamba is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-25
How to recognise Kaim
It is a medium to large tree with opposite, rounded leaves, smaller than those of kadam, Neolamarckia cadamba.
Between the leaf stalks are large, paired stipules shaped like a bishop’s mitre, which gives the genus its name.
The flower heads are small, round and creamy yellow, about two centimetres across, and fragrant.
It sheds its leaves in the dry season and flowers in early summer.
Kadam has much larger, orange flower heads and bigger leaves.
Traditional use of Kaim
Timber
The wood is used for furniture, carving, combs and agricultural tools.
Indian village practice
Folk practice
The bark and leaves appear in regional folk preparations.
Regional Indian folk practice
Modern notes on Kaim
Chemists have isolated indole alkaloids such as mitraphylline from the leaves and bark. These are different from the mitragynine of kratom, and their effects in people are not well studied.
Its main modern value is as a native tree for planting along rivers and on moist ground.
Kaim safety
Do not use it as a kratom substitute. Its alkaloids are poorly characterised.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in dry deciduous forest near streams and on seasonally waterlogged soils across India and Sri Lanka.
Its roots help stabilise riverbanks.
It tolerates both drought and waterlogging, which makes it useful to foresters on difficult sites.
Related plants
Also in Rubiaceae
Questions about Kaim
Is Kaim kratom?
No. Kratom is Mitragyna speciosa from Southeast Asia.
What older names does Mitragyna parvifolia go by?
Stephegyne parvifolia and Nauclea parvifolia.
Is Kaim the Vrindavan kadamba?
Some scholars think so. Most people mean Neolamarckia cadamba.
Where can I see Kaim?
Along rivers and in moist hollows in dry forests across central and northern India.
Sources
- Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q6019715 (Mitragyna parvifolia)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.