Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br
Family
Apocynaceae
Synonyms
Echites scholaris L., Tabernaemontana alternifolia Burm., Echites pala Ham.
Vernacular Names
|
Malaysia |
Pulai (Peninsular), kacau gitik (Kiput, Sarawak). |
|
English |
White cheesewood, milkwood, blackboard tree. |
|
Brunei |
Pulai lilin. |
|
Indonesia |
Pulai (General), pule (Javanese), rite (Ambon). |
|
Papua New Guinea |
Katung (Buang, Morobe Province), kambuu (Kanganaman, Sepik Province), herina (Hisui, Central Province). |
|
Philippines |
Dita (Tagalog, Bikul, Sulu), dalipaoen (Iloko), tanitan (Bisaya). |
|
Myanmar |
Taung meok, lettok. |
|
Laos |
Tinpet. |
|
Thailand |
Sattaban, tin pet (Central), hassaban (Southwestern). |
|
Vietnam |
M[of] cua, s[uwx]a. |
|
French |
Shaitan. |
Geographical Distributions
Alstonia scholaris is the most widely distributed Alstonia species, found from Sri Lanka and India through mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, throughout Malaysia, to northern Australia, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. It has also been planted elsewhere.
Description
Alstonia scholaris is a medium-sized to large tree that can grow up to 10-50(-60) m tall. The bole is cylindrical, massively fluted in older trees and measures up to 125 cm in diametre.
The buttresses are stout, and measure up to 10 m tall which spread out at the base for up to 4 m. The outer bark is brown or yellowish-white, smooth but coming off evenly in small papery flakes, with horizontally enlarged lenticels and hoops while the inner bark is yellow to brown, usually tinged yellowish and with copious white latex.
The leaves are in whorls of 4-8(-9), narrowly elliptical to obovate, measuring (5-)6-17(-22) cm x (1.5-)2.5-7.5(-8.5) cm, obtuse or rounded at apex and with 25-45(-55) pairs of secondary veins. The petiole is 5-20(-25) mm long.
The inflorescence is mostly formed of dense bunches of flowers and many-flowered while the pedicel is 0-2 mm long. The sepal is soft hairy while the petal is hairy outside. Follicles are hairless.
Ecology / Cultivation
Alstonia scholaris is most abundant in monsoon areas, and it tolerates various soils and habitats, including secondary vegetation. It occurs from sea level up to about 1250 m altitude. As an ornament, it has proved to be adaptable to the climates of southern Florida and California (United States).
Line Drawing / Photograph
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References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No.12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2.
