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{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Taxobox
{{Automatic taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Alstonia''
|image = Alstonia scholaris.jpg
| image = Alstonia scholaris.jpg
|image_caption = ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'', habit (above), details (below)
|image2 = Alstonia.scholaris.jpg
| image_width = 250px
|display_parents = 2
| image_caption = Indian Devil tree (''Alstonia scholaris'')
|taxon = Alstonia
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
|authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|R.Br.]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
|type_species = ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]''
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
|type_species_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|R.Br.]]
| ordo = [[Gentianales]]
|synonyms =
| familia = [[Apocynaceae]]
{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
| tribus = [[Plumeriae]]
*''Amblyocalyx'' <small>Benth. in G.Bentham & J.D.Hooker</small>
| subtribus = [[Alstoniinae]]
*''Blaberopus'' <small>A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle</small>
| genus = '''''Alstonia'''''
*''Pala'' <small>Juss.</small>
| genus_authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist)|R.Br.]]
*''Paladelpha'' <small>Pichon</small>
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
*''Tonduzia'' <small>Pittier</small>
| subdivision =
*''Winchia'' <small>A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle</small>
See text.
}}
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=j>{{cite web
|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?name_id=6994
|title=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
|access-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Alstonia''''' is a widespread [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] trees and [[shrub]]s from the dogbane family ([[Apocynaceae]]). It was named by [[Robert Brown]] in 1811, after [[Charles Alston]] (1685-1760), Professor of [[botany]] at [[Edinburgh]] from 1716-1760.
'''''Alstonia''''' is a widespread [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] trees and [[shrub]]s, of the family [[Apocynaceae]]. It was named by [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] in 1811, after [[Charles Alston (botanist)|Charles Alston]] (1685–1760), professor of [[botany]] at [[Edinburgh]] from 1716 to 1760.


The type species ''Alstonia scholaris'' (L.) R.Br. was originally named ''Echites scholaris'' by [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in 1767.
The type species ''Alstonia scholaris'' (L.) R.Br. was originally named ''Echites scholaris'' by [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] in 1767.


==Description==
==Description==
''Alstonia'' (devil tree) consists of about 40-60 [[species]] (according to different authors), native to tropical and subtropical [[Africa]], [[Central America]], [[southeast Asia]], [[Polynesia]] and [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]] and North [[Australia]], with most species in the Malesian region.
''Alstonia'' consists of about 40–60 [[species]] (according to different authors) native to tropical and subtropical [[Africa]], [[Central America]], [[Southeast Asia]], [[Polynesia]] and [[Australia]], with most species in the [[Malesia|Malesian region]].


These trees can grow very large, such as ''Alstonia pneumatophora'', recorded with a height of 60 m and a diameter of more than 2 m. ''Alstonia longifolia'' is the only species growing in Central America (mainly shrubs, but also trees 20 m high).
These trees can grow very large, such as ''Alstonia pneumatophora'', recorded with a height of 60 m and a diameter of more than 2 m. ''Alstonia longifolia'' is the only species growing in Central America (mainly shrubs, but also trees 20 m high).


The leathery, sessile, simple [[leaf|leaves]] are elliptical, ovate, linear or lanceolate and wedge-shaped at the base. The leaf blade is dorsiventral, medium-sized to large and disposed oppositely or in a whorl and with entire margin. The leaf venation is pinnate, with numerous veins ending in a marginal vein.
The leathery, sessile, simple [[leaf|leaves]] are elliptical, ovate, linear or lanceolate and wedge-shaped at the base. The leaf blade is dorsiventral, medium-sized to large and disposed oppositely or in a whorl and with entire margin. The leaf venation is pinnate, with numerous veins ending in a marginal vein. [[Phyllotaxy]] is [[Whorl (botany)|whorled]] i.e. two or more leaves arises at a node and form a whorl .


The [[inflorescence]] is terminal or axillary, consisting of thyrsiform [[cyme]]s or compound [[umbel]]s. The small, more or less fragrant [[flower]]s are white, yellow, pink or green and funnel-shaped, growing on a pedicel and subtended by [[bract]]s. They consist of 5 [[petal]]s and 5 [[sepal]]s, arranged in four whorls. The fertile flowers are hermaphrodite. The gamosepalous green sepals consist of ovate lobes, and are distributed in one whorl. The annular disk is hypogynous. The five gamesepalous petals have oblong or ovate lobes and are disposed in one whorl. The [[corolla]] lobes overlapping to the left (such as ''A. rostrata'') or to the right (such as ''A. macrophylla'') in the bud. The [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] has 2 separate follicles with glabrous or ciliate, oblong [[seed]]s that develop into deep blue podlike, schizocarp [[fruit]], between 7-40 cm long. The plants contain a milky [[Sap (plant)|sap]], rich in poisonous [[alkaloid]]s. The ''Alstonia macrophylla'' is commonly known in [[Sri Lanka]] as 'Havari nuga' or the 'wig banyan' because of its distinct flower that looks like a woman's long wig.
The [[inflorescence]] is terminal or axillary, consisting of thyrsiform [[Cyme (botany)|cymes]] or compound [[umbel]]s. The small, more or less fragrant [[flower]]s are white, yellow, pink or green and funnel-shaped, growing on a pedicel and subtended by [[bract]]s. They consist of 5 [[petal]]s and 5 [[sepal]]s, arranged in four whorls. The fertile flowers are hermaphrodite. The gamosepalous green sepals consist of ovate lobes, and are distributed in one whorl. The annular disk is hypogynous. The five gamesepalous petals have oblong or ovate lobes and are disposed in one whorl. The [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] lobes overlapping to the left (such as ''A. rostrata'') or to the right (such as ''A. macrophylla'') in the bud. The [[ovary (plants)|ovary]] has 2 separate follicles with glabrous or ciliate, oblong [[seed]]s that develop into deep blue podlike, schizocarp [[fruit]], between 7–40&nbsp;cm long. The plants contain a milky [[latex]], rich in poisonous [[alkaloid]]s. [[Fijians]] use the latex of ''A. costata'' (''saurua'', ''sorua'') as a form of [[chewing gum]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keppel |first1=Gunnar |title=Trees of Fiji: A Guide to 100 Rainforest Trees |last2=Ghazanfar |first2=Shahina A. |author-link2=Shahina A. Ghazanfar |date=2011 |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Community & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit |edition=third, revised |pages=42–3}}</ref> The ''Alstonia macrophylla'' is commonly known in [[Sri Lanka]] as 'Havari nuga' or the 'wig banyan' because of its distinct flower that looks like a woman's long wig.


''Alstonia'' trees are used in [[traditional medicine]]. The bark of the ''[[Alstonia constricta]]'' and the ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'' is a source of a remedy against [[malaria]], toothache, rheumatism and snake bites. The [[latex]] is used in treating coughs, throat sores and fever.
''Alstonia'' trees are used in [[traditional medicine]]. The bark of ''[[Alstonia constricta]]'' and ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'' is the source of a remedy against [[malaria]], toothache, rheumatism and snake bites{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}. The [[latex]] is used in treating coughs, throat sores and fever.


Many ''Alstonia'' species are commercial timbers, called ''pule'' or ''pulai'' in Indonesia and Malaysia. Trees from the section ''Alstonia'' produce light timber, while those from the sections ''Monuraspermum'' and ''Dissuraspermum'' produce heavy timber.
Many ''Alstonia'' species are harvested for [[timber]], called ''pule'' or ''pulai'' in Indonesia and Malaysia. Trees from the section ''Alstonia'' produce lightweight timber, while those from the sections ''Monuraspermum'' and ''Dissuraspermum'' produce heavy timber.


Alstonia trees are widespread and mostly not endangered. However a few species are very rare, such as ''A. annamensis'', ''A. beatricis'', ''A. breviloba'', ''A. stenophylla'' and ''A. guangxiensis''.
''Alstonia'' trees are widespread and mostly not endangered. However a few species are very rare, such as ''A. annamensis'', ''A. beatricis'', ''A. breviloba'', ''A. stenophylla'' and ''A. guangxiensis''.


==Species==
==Species==
''Alstonia'' has five distinct sections, each a [[monophyletic]] group; ''Alstonia, Blaberopus, Tonduzia, Monuraspermum, Dissuraspermum''.
''Alstonia'' has five distinct sections, each a [[monophyletic]] group; ''Alstonia'', ''Blaberopus'', ''Tonduzia'', ''Monuraspermum'', ''Dissuraspermum''.
[[Image:Alstonia.scholaris.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Bitter Bark (Alstonia scholaris)]]
* ''[[Alstonia actinophylla]]'' (A.Cunn.) K.Schum. - Milkwood
* ''Alstonia acuminata'' Miq.
* ''Alstonia annamensis'' ( Monach. ) K.Sidiyasa
* ''Alstonia angustifolia'' A.DC.
* ''Alstonia balansae'' Guillaumin
* ''Alstonia beatricis'' K.Sidiyasa
* ''Alstonia boonei'' De Wild.
* ''Alstonia boulindaensis'' Boiteau
* ''Alstonia brassii'' Monachino
* ''Alstonia breviloba'' K.Sidiyasa
* ''Alstonia calophylla'' Miq.
* ''Alstonia comptonii'' S.Moore
* ''Alstonia congensis'' Engl.
* ''[[Alstonia constricta]]'' F.Muell. - Bitterbark, Quinine Tree, Australian Fever Bark
* ''Alstonia coriacea'' Pancher & S.Moore
* ''Alstonia costata'' R.Br.
* ''Alstonia cuneata'' Wall. & G.Don
* ''Alstonia curtisii'' King & Gamble
* ''Alstonia deplanchei'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia duerckheimianan'' Schltr.
* ''Alstonia edulis'' G.Benn.
* ''Alstonia elliptica'' J.W.Moore
* ''Alstonia esquirolii'' H.Lév.
* ''Alstonia eximia'' Miq.
* ''Alstonia ficifolia'' S.Moore
* ''Alstonia filipes'' Schltr. ex Guillaumin
* ''Alstonia fragrans'' J.W.Moore
* ''Alstonia gilletii'' De Wild.
* ''Alstonia glabriflora'' Markgr.
* ''Alstonia godeffroyi'' Reinecke
* ''Alstonia grandifolia'' Miq.
* ''Alstonia guangxiensis'' D.Fang & X.X.Chen
* ''Alstonia henryi'' Tsiang
* ''Alstonia iwahigensis'' Elmer
* ''Alstonia kurzii'' Hook.f.
* ''Alstonia lanceolata'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia lanceolifera'' S.Moore
* ''Alstonia legouixiae'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia lenormandii'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia linearifolia'' Guillaumin
* ''Alstonia linearis'' Benth.
* ''Alstonia longifolia'' (A.DC.) Pichon
* ''Alstonia longissima'' F.Muell.
* ''[[Alstonia macrophylla]]'' Wall. ex G.Don - Batino, Devil Tree
* ''Alstonia mairei'' H. Léveillé
* ''Alstonia marquisensis'' M.L.Grant ex Fosberg & Sachet
* ''Alstonia micrantha'' Ridl.
* ''Alstonia mollis'' Benth.
* ''Alstonia montana'' Turrill
* ''[[Alstonia muelleriana]]'' Domin - Jackapple, Leatherjacket, Milky Yellowwood
* ''Alstonia neriifolia'' D.Don.
* ''Alstonia oblongifolia'' Merr.
* ''Alstonia odontophora'' Boiteau
* ''Alstonia pachycarpa'' Merr., Chun & Tsiang
* ''Alstonia pangkorensis'' King & Gamble
* ''Alstonia parvifolia'' Merr.
* ''Alstonia paucinervia'' Merr.
* ''Alstonia paupera'' (synonym of ''A. mairei'')
* ''Alstonia penangiana'' K.Sidiyasa
* ''Alstonia plumosa'' Labill.
* ''Alstonia pneumatophora'' Backer ex L.G.Den Berger
* ''Alstonia polyphylla'' Miq.
* ''Alstonia quaternata'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia reineckeana'' Lauterb.
* ''Alstonia retusa'' S.Moore
* ''Alstonia roeperi'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''Alstonia rostrata'' C.E.C.Fischer
* ''Alstonia rubiginosa'' K.Sidiyasa
* ''[[Alstonia rupestris]]'' Kerr
* ''[[Alstonia saligna]]'' S.Moore
* ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'' (L.) R.Br. - Pali-mari, Dita Bark, Bitter Bark, Milkwood, Milky Bean, Milky Pine, White Cheesewood, Blackboard Tree
* ''[[Alstonia sericea]]'' Blume
* ''[[Alstonia setchelliana]]'' Christoph.
* ''[[Alstonia smithii]]'' Markgr.
* ''[[Alstonia somersetensis]]'' F.M.Bailey
* ''[[Alstonia spathulifolia]]'' Guillaumin
* ''[[Alstonia spatulata]]'' Blume - Hard Milkwood, Siamese Balsa
* ''[[Alstonia spectabilis]]'' R.Br. - Poele Bark, Jackapple, Leatherjacket, Milky Yellowwood
* ''[[Alstonia sphaerocapitata]]'' Boiteau
* ''[[Alstonia stenophylla]]'' Guillaumin
* ''[[Alstonia subsessilis]]'' Miq.
* ''[[Alstonia twahigensis]]''
* ''[[Alstonia undulata]]'' Guillaumin
* ''[[Alstonia undulifolia]]'' K.M.Kochummen & K.M.Wong
* ''[[Alstonia venenata]]'' R.Br.
* ''[[Alstonia verticillosa]]'' F.Muell.
* ''[[Alstonia vieillardii]]'' Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
* ''[[Alstonia villosa]]'' Blume
* ''[[Alstonia vitiensis]]'' Seem.
* ''[[Alstonia yunnanensis]]'' Diels


;Accepted species<ref name=j/>
==References==
# ''[[Alstonia actinophylla]]'' <small>(A.Cunn.) K.Schum.</small> – milkwood - New Guinea, N Australia
*[http://www.tropenbos.nl/docs/nwl17.pdf Recent taxonomy of Alstonia] ([[Portable Document Format|pdf]] file).
# ''[[Alstonia angustifolia]]'' <small>A.DC.</small> - Borneo, W Malaysia, Sumatra
* Kade Sidiyasa. Taxonomy, phylogeny, and wood anatomy of Alstonia (Apocynaceae). 230 pp. Blumea, Suppl. 11 (1998), ISBN 90-71236-35-8. (Awarded with the [[Adolf Engler|Engler]] Medal by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy)
# ''[[Alstonia angustiloba]]'' <small>Miq.</small> - Borneo, W Malaysia, Sumatra, Thailand, Java
* Kade Sidiyasa, A., 3, 1992. A monograph of Alstonia (Apocynaceae).
# ''[[Alstonia annamensis]]'' <small>(Monach.) K.Sidiyasa</small> - Cambodia, Vietnam
* Forster, Paul I. - A taxonomic revision of Alstonia (Apocynaceae) in Australia (1992)
# ''[[Alstonia balansae]]'' <small>Guillaumin</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia beatricis]]'' <small>K.Sidiyasa</small> - Waigeo I in E Indonesia
# ''[[Alstonia boonei]]'' <small>De Wild.</small> - W + C + E Africa
# ''[[Alstonia boulindaensis]]'' <small>Boiteau</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia breviloba]]'' <small>K.Sidiyasa</small> - Papua New Guinea
# ''[[Alstonia congensis]]'' <small>Engl.</small> - W + C Africa
# ''[[Alstonia constricta]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small> – bitterbark, quinine tree, Australian fever bark - E Australia
# ''[[Alstonia coriacea]]'' <small>Pancher & S.Moore</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia costata]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> - S Pacific
# ''[[Alstonia curtisii]]'' <small>King & Gamble</small> - Thailand
# ''[[Alstonia deplanchei]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia guangxiensis]]'' <small>D.Fang & X.X.Chen</small> - Guangxi in China
# ''[[Alstonia iwahigensis]]'' <small>Elmer</small> - Borneo, Palawan
# ''[[Alstonia lanceolata]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia lanceolifera]]'' <small>S.Moore</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia legouixiae]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia lenormandii]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia longifolia]]'' <small>(A.DC.) Pichon</small> - Mexico, Central America
# ''[[Alstonia macrophylla]]'' <small>Wall. ex G.Don</small> – batino, devil tree - S China, Sri Lanka, SE Asia, New Guinea
# ''[[Alstonia mairei]]'' <small>H. Léveillé</small> - S China, N Vietnam
# ''[[Alstonia muelleriana]]'' <small>Domin</small> – jackapple, leatherjacket, milky yellowwood - New Guinea, Queensland
# ''[[Alstonia neriifolia]]'' <small>D.Don</small> - Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan
# ''[[Alstonia odontophora]]'' <small>Boiteau</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia parkinsonii]]'' <small>(M.Gangop. & Chakrab.) Lakra & Chakrab.</small> - Andaman Is.
# ''[[Alstonia parvifolia]]'' <small>Merr.</small> - Philippines
# ''[[Alstonia penangiana]]'' <small>K.Sidiyasa</small> - Penang Hill in Malaysia
# ''[[Alstonia pneumatophora]]'' <small>Backer ex L.G.Den Berger</small> - W Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra
# ''[[Alstonia quaternata]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. -</small> New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia rostrata]]'' <small>C.E.C.Fischer</small> - Yunnan, Indochina, W Malaysia, Sumatra
# ''[[Alstonia rubiginosa]]'' <small>K.Sidiyasa</small> - Papua New Guinea
# ''[[Alstonia rupestris]]'' <small>Kerr</small> - Thailand
# ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'' <small>(L.) R.Br.</small> – pali-mari, dita bark, bitter bark, milkwood, milky bean, milky pine, white cheesewood, scholar tree, blackboard tree - E + S + SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia
# ''[[Alstonia sebusii]]'' <small>(Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.) Monach.</small> - Yunnan, Bhutan, Assam, N Myanmar
# ''[[Alstonia spatulata]]'' <small>Blume</small> – hard milkwood, Siamese balsa - SE Asia, New Guinea
# ''[[Alstonia spectabilis]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> – poele bark, jackapple, leatherjacket, milky yellowwood - SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia
# ''[[Alstonia sphaerocapitata]]'' <small>Boiteau</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia venenata]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> - S India
# ''[[Alstonia vieillardii]]'' <small>Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.</small> - New Caledonia
# ''[[Alstonia vietnamensis]]'' <small>D.J.Middleton</small> - Vietnam
# ''[[Alstonia yunnanensis]]'' <small>Diels</small> - Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi


==External links==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
===Eclectic herbal information===
Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparni) in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 1469.jpg|''[[Alstonia scholaris]]''
*[http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/alstonia-cons.html Alstonia constricta (Alstonia bark)] King's American Dispensatory @ Henriette's Herbal
Alstonia spectabilis Blanco2.379.png|''[[Alstonia spectabilis]]''
*[http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/alstonia-scho.html Alstonia scholaris (Dita bark) ] King's American Dispensatory @ Henriette's Herbal
Alstonia macrophylla (Batino) in Hyderabad W IMG 7138.jpg|''[[Alstonia macrophylla]]''
*[http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/alsto028.html Alstonia (Alstonia scholaris)] Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" @ Botanical.com
</gallery>
*[http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/a/alsto029.html Alstonia Bark (Alstonia constricta) ] Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" @ Botanical.com
*[http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/ditaba14.html Dita Bark (Alstonia scholaris)] Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" @ Botanical.com


==Notes==
===Homeopathic information===
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.homeoint.org/books5/allenprimer/alst.htm Alstonia (alst.)] "A Primer of Materia Medica for practitioners of Homœopathy" by Timothy Alle

==References==
{{Commons category|Alstonia}}
* {{cite journal|author=Kade Sidiyasa|title= Taxonomy, phylogeny, and wood anatomy of Alstonia (Apocynaceae)|journal=Blumea. Supplement|volume= 11|date=1998|pages=1–230|url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/566777}} {{ISBN|90-71236-35-8}}
* Kade Sidiyasa, A., 3, 1992. A monograph of Alstonia (Apocynaceae).
* {{cite journal|last1=Forster|first1=P.I.|title=A taxonomic revision of Alstonia (Apocynaceae) in Australia|journal=Australian Systematic Botany|volume=5|issue=6|year=1992|pages=745|issn=1030-1887|doi=10.1071/SB9920745}}


{{Taxonbar|from=Q2475725}}
[[Category:Apocynaceae]]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Trees]]


[[pt:Alstonia]]
[[Category:Alstonia| ]]
[[Category:Apocynaceae genera]]
[[vi:Chi Hoa sữa]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)]]

Latest revision as of 17:19, 9 May 2024

Alstonia
Alstonia scholaris, habit (above), details (below)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Alstonieae
Genus: Alstonia
R.Br.
Type species
Alstonia scholaris
Synonyms[1]
  • Amblyocalyx Benth. in G.Bentham & J.D.Hooker
  • Blaberopus A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle
  • Pala Juss.
  • Paladelpha Pichon
  • Tonduzia Pittier
  • Winchia A.DC. in A.P.de Candolle

Alstonia is a widespread genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, of the family Apocynaceae. It was named by Robert Brown in 1811, after Charles Alston (1685–1760), professor of botany at Edinburgh from 1716 to 1760.

The type species Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. was originally named Echites scholaris by Linnaeus in 1767.

Description

[edit]

Alstonia consists of about 40–60 species (according to different authors) native to tropical and subtropical Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, Polynesia and Australia, with most species in the Malesian region.

These trees can grow very large, such as Alstonia pneumatophora, recorded with a height of 60 m and a diameter of more than 2 m. Alstonia longifolia is the only species growing in Central America (mainly shrubs, but also trees 20 m high).

The leathery, sessile, simple leaves are elliptical, ovate, linear or lanceolate and wedge-shaped at the base. The leaf blade is dorsiventral, medium-sized to large and disposed oppositely or in a whorl and with entire margin. The leaf venation is pinnate, with numerous veins ending in a marginal vein. Phyllotaxy is whorled i.e. two or more leaves arises at a node and form a whorl .

The inflorescence is terminal or axillary, consisting of thyrsiform cymes or compound umbels. The small, more or less fragrant flowers are white, yellow, pink or green and funnel-shaped, growing on a pedicel and subtended by bracts. They consist of 5 petals and 5 sepals, arranged in four whorls. The fertile flowers are hermaphrodite. The gamosepalous green sepals consist of ovate lobes, and are distributed in one whorl. The annular disk is hypogynous. The five gamesepalous petals have oblong or ovate lobes and are disposed in one whorl. The corolla lobes overlapping to the left (such as A. rostrata) or to the right (such as A. macrophylla) in the bud. The ovary has 2 separate follicles with glabrous or ciliate, oblong seeds that develop into deep blue podlike, schizocarp fruit, between 7–40 cm long. The plants contain a milky latex, rich in poisonous alkaloids. Fijians use the latex of A. costata (saurua, sorua) as a form of chewing gum.[2] The Alstonia macrophylla is commonly known in Sri Lanka as 'Havari nuga' or the 'wig banyan' because of its distinct flower that looks like a woman's long wig.

Alstonia trees are used in traditional medicine. The bark of Alstonia constricta and Alstonia scholaris is the source of a remedy against malaria, toothache, rheumatism and snake bites[citation needed]. The latex is used in treating coughs, throat sores and fever.

Many Alstonia species are harvested for timber, called pule or pulai in Indonesia and Malaysia. Trees from the section Alstonia produce lightweight timber, while those from the sections Monuraspermum and Dissuraspermum produce heavy timber.

Alstonia trees are widespread and mostly not endangered. However a few species are very rare, such as A. annamensis, A. beatricis, A. breviloba, A. stenophylla and A. guangxiensis.

Species

[edit]

Alstonia has five distinct sections, each a monophyletic group; Alstonia, Blaberopus, Tonduzia, Monuraspermum, Dissuraspermum.

Accepted species[1]
  1. Alstonia actinophylla (A.Cunn.) K.Schum. – milkwood - New Guinea, N Australia
  2. Alstonia angustifolia A.DC. - Borneo, W Malaysia, Sumatra
  3. Alstonia angustiloba Miq. - Borneo, W Malaysia, Sumatra, Thailand, Java
  4. Alstonia annamensis (Monach.) K.Sidiyasa - Cambodia, Vietnam
  5. Alstonia balansae Guillaumin - New Caledonia
  6. Alstonia beatricis K.Sidiyasa - Waigeo I in E Indonesia
  7. Alstonia boonei De Wild. - W + C + E Africa
  8. Alstonia boulindaensis Boiteau - New Caledonia
  9. Alstonia breviloba K.Sidiyasa - Papua New Guinea
  10. Alstonia congensis Engl. - W + C Africa
  11. Alstonia constricta F.Muell. – bitterbark, quinine tree, Australian fever bark - E Australia
  12. Alstonia coriacea Pancher & S.Moore - New Caledonia
  13. Alstonia costata R.Br. - S Pacific
  14. Alstonia curtisii King & Gamble - Thailand
  15. Alstonia deplanchei Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  16. Alstonia guangxiensis D.Fang & X.X.Chen - Guangxi in China
  17. Alstonia iwahigensis Elmer - Borneo, Palawan
  18. Alstonia lanceolata Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  19. Alstonia lanceolifera S.Moore - New Caledonia
  20. Alstonia legouixiae Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  21. Alstonia lenormandii Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  22. Alstonia longifolia (A.DC.) Pichon - Mexico, Central America
  23. Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G.Don – batino, devil tree - S China, Sri Lanka, SE Asia, New Guinea
  24. Alstonia mairei H. Léveillé - S China, N Vietnam
  25. Alstonia muelleriana Domin – jackapple, leatherjacket, milky yellowwood - New Guinea, Queensland
  26. Alstonia neriifolia D.Don - Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan
  27. Alstonia odontophora Boiteau - New Caledonia
  28. Alstonia parkinsonii (M.Gangop. & Chakrab.) Lakra & Chakrab. - Andaman Is.
  29. Alstonia parvifolia Merr. - Philippines
  30. Alstonia penangiana K.Sidiyasa - Penang Hill in Malaysia
  31. Alstonia pneumatophora Backer ex L.G.Den Berger - W Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumatra
  32. Alstonia quaternata Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  33. Alstonia rostrata C.E.C.Fischer - Yunnan, Indochina, W Malaysia, Sumatra
  34. Alstonia rubiginosa K.Sidiyasa - Papua New Guinea
  35. Alstonia rupestris Kerr - Thailand
  36. Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. – pali-mari, dita bark, bitter bark, milkwood, milky bean, milky pine, white cheesewood, scholar tree, blackboard tree - E + S + SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia
  37. Alstonia sebusii (Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.) Monach. - Yunnan, Bhutan, Assam, N Myanmar
  38. Alstonia spatulata Blume – hard milkwood, Siamese balsa - SE Asia, New Guinea
  39. Alstonia spectabilis R.Br. – poele bark, jackapple, leatherjacket, milky yellowwood - SE Asia, Papuasia, N Australia
  40. Alstonia sphaerocapitata Boiteau - New Caledonia
  41. Alstonia venenata R.Br. - S India
  42. Alstonia vieillardii Van Heurck & Müll.Arg. - New Caledonia
  43. Alstonia vietnamensis D.J.Middleton - Vietnam
  44. Alstonia yunnanensis Diels - Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi
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Notes

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  1. ^ a b "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  2. ^ Keppel, Gunnar; Ghazanfar, Shahina A. (2011). Trees of Fiji: A Guide to 100 Rainforest Trees (third, revised ed.). Secretariat of the Pacific Community & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit. pp. 42–3.

References

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