Alstonia scholaris

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Alstonia scholaris

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Alstonia
Species:
A. scholaris
Binomial name
Alstonia scholaris
Occurrence data from
GBIF[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Echites scholaris L.

Alstonia scholaris, commonly called blackboard tree, scholar tree, milkwood or devil's tree in English,

Ajitnatha
.

Description

Alstonia scholaris is a

glabrous tree and grows up to 40 m (130 ft) tall. Its mature bark is grayish and its young branches are copiously marked with lenticels. A unique feature of this tree is that in some places, such as New Guinea, the trunk is three-sided (i.e. it is triangular in cross-section).[4]

The upper side of the leaves are glossy, while the underside is greyish.

corolla is white and tube-like, 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The lobes are broadly ovate or broadly obovate, 2–4.5 mm (0.08–0.2 in), overlapping to the left. The ovaries are distinct and pubescent. The follicles
are distinct and linear.

Flowers bloom in the month of October. The flowers are very fragrant and similar to the flower of Cestrum nocturnum.

Seeds of A. scholaris are oblong, with ciliated margins, and end with tufts of hairs 1.5–2 cm (0.6–0.8 in) long.[7] The bark is almost odorless and very bitter, with abundant bitter and milky sap.

Distribution

Alstonia scholaris is native to the following regions:[3]

Alstonia scholaris is the state tree of West Bengal, India, where it is called Chhatim tree.

Toxicity

This is a toxic plant. At high doses, an extract of the plant exhibited marked damage to all the major organs of the body in both rats and mice. The toxicity appears to depend on the plant organ studied, as well as the season it is harvested, with the bark collected in the monsoon season being the least toxic, and bark in the summer the most. Intraperitoneal administration is much more toxic than oral. Rats were more susceptible to the poison than mice, and pure-bred mice strains were more susceptible than crossbred. The toxic effects may be due to the alkaloid echitamine in the bark.[9]

Chemistry

The bark contains the alkaloids ditamine, echitenine,[citation needed] echitamine[9] and strictamine.[10] Echitamine is the most important alkaloid found in the bark, as it has been detected in all samples studied and collected from several locations. It is commercially sold as a herbal medicine.[11]

Uses

The wood of Alstonia scholaris has been recommended for the manufacture of

Buddha
is said to have used A. scholaris as the tree for achieving enlightenment.

The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia states that "the powerfully bitter bark of this tree is used by the natives of India in bowel complaints (Treasury of Botany). It has proved a valuable remedy in chronic diarrhoea and the advanced stages of dysentery. It has also been found effectual in restoring the tone of the stomach and of the system generally in debility after fevers and other exhausting diseases (Pharmacopoeia of India). It is described in the Pharmacopoeia of India as an astringent tonic, anthelmintic, and antiperiodic. It is held in the highest repute in the Phillippine Islands [sic]."

Giardia intestinalis,[15] and weak effect against Entamoeba histolytica, which both cause diarrhoea.[16]

During convocation the leaves of Alstonia scholaris (saptaparni) are awarded to graduates and postgraduates of Visva-Bharati University by the chancellor, given to him in turn by the Prime Minister of India. In recent years, supposedly to prevent excessive damage to the environment, the vice-chancellor of the University accepts one saptaparni leaf from the chancellor on behalf of all the students. This tradition was initiated by the founder of the University, Rabindranath Tagore.[17]

At one time,

beriberi.[5]

Gallery

  • Botanical illustration of Alstonia scholaris
    Botanical illustration of Alstonia scholaris
  • A. scholaris blossom – Mumbai, India
    A. scholaris blossom – Mumbai, India
  • A. scholaris fruit, Australia
    A. scholaris fruit, Australia
  • Arrangement of leaves
    Arrangement of leaves
  • Close-up of bark in Hong Kong
    Close-up of bark in Hong Kong
  • A. scholaris at Terengganu, Malaysia
    A. scholaris at Terengganu, Malaysia
  • Leaves and flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
    Leaves and flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alstonia scholaris.
Wikispecies has information related to Alstonia scholaris.
  1. ^ Lakhey, P. & Pathak, J. (2021). "Alstonia scholaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T32295A2812825. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  2. ^ GBIF.org (07 June 2018) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.eokqvq Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.
  3. ^ a b c "Alstonia scholaris". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  4. ^ Lane-Poole, C.E. (1925). Forest Resources of the Territories of Papua and New Guinea. Melbourne: Government Printer. p. 134.
  5. ^ a b "Dita / Alstonia scholaris / WHITE CHEESE WOOD / Tang jiao shu /: Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Philippine Alternative Medicine". www.stuartxchange.org. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
  6. ^ Corner, Prof. E.J.H. (1952). Wayside Trees of Malaya - Volume 1. Singapore: Govt Printing Office. p. 141.
  7. ^ "Alstonia scholaris". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 29 June 2007.[title missing]
  8. ISBN 978-967-57190-6-6
  9. ^
    PMID 15183456
    .
  10. PMID 500142
    .
  11. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)80208-X
    . Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  12. ^ Tonanont, N. Wood used in pencil making. Vanasarn 1974 Vol. 32 No. 3 pp. 225–227
  13. ^ Grieve, M. (1931). "Alstonia". A Modern Botanical. Retrieved 29 June 2007.
  14. ^ J. H. Maiden (1889). The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania. Sydney: Turner and Henderson.
  15. ^
    PMID 8246529
    .
  16. ^
    S2CID 86802484
    .
  17. ^ Abhishek Gulshan (22 October 2019). "Why the Saptaparni is called the devil's tree". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
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