Nauclea

Nauclea is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The species are evergreen trees or shrubs that are native to the paleotropics. The terminal vegetative buds are usually strongly flattened. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words naus, meaning "ship" and kleio, meaning "to close". It refers to the resemblance of the cells of the capsule to a ship's hull.

Cultivation and use

Nauclea diderrichii is a large tree from West Africa that is widely cultivated elsewhere. Its wood is resistant to borers and is used at harbors and in other places where wood is in constant contact with water.

In 2013, researchers reported that samples of Nauclea latifolia were found to contain the opioid analgesic tramadol. However, the presence of the compound's mammalian metabolites in the tree and surrounding bodies of water suggests that this is a consequence of environmental accumulation of tramadol after it is given to local livestock and that the tree is not synthesizing the compound.