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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 (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 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]]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 (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 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.


''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{{fact}}. The [[latex]] is used in treating coughs, throat sores and fever.
''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{{Fact|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 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.
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* Forster, Paul I. - A taxonomic revision of Alstonia (Apocynaceae) in Australia (1992)
* Forster, Paul I. - A taxonomic revision of Alstonia (Apocynaceae) in Australia (1992)
{{Commonscat|Alstonia}}
{{Commonscat|Alstonia}}

[[Category:Alstonia| ]]
[[Category:Alstonia| ]]
[[Category:Trees]]
[[Category:Trees]]

Revision as of 18:35, 14 July 2008

Alstonia
Indian Devil tree (Alstonia scholaris)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Class:
Magnoliopsida
Order:
Gentianales
Family:
Apocynaceae
Tribe:
Plumeriae
Subtribe:
Alstoniinae
Genus:
Alstonia

Species

See text.

Alstonia is a widespread genus of evergreen trees and shrubs 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.

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

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 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.

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 sap, rich in poisonous alkaloids. 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[citation needed]. 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.

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

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

Bitter Bark (Alstonia scholaris)

References

  • Recent taxonomy of Alstonia (pdf file).
  • Kade Sidiyasa. Taxonomy, phylogeny, and wood anatomy of Alstonia (Apocynaceae). 230 pp. Blumea, Suppl. 11 (1998), ISBN 90-71236-35-8. (Awarded with the Engler Medal by the International Association for Plant Taxonomy)
  • Kade Sidiyasa, A., 3, 1992. A monograph of Alstonia (Apocynaceae).
  • Forster, Paul I. - A taxonomic revision of Alstonia (Apocynaceae) in Australia (1992)
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