Alstonia scholaris
Alstonia scholaris | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris) | |
Conservation status
| |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Genus: | Alstonia |
Species: | A. scholaris
|
Binomial name | |
Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.
| |
![]() | |
Occurrence data from GBIF[2] | |
Synonyms[3] | |
|
Alstonia scholaris, commonly called blackboard tree or devil's tree in English,[3] is an evergreen tropical tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to southern China, tropical Asia and Australasia, it is a commonly planted ornamental plant in these areas. It is a toxic plant, but traditionally it is used medicinally for myriad diseases and complaints.
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.
The upper side of the leaves are glossy, while the underside is greyish.[4] Leaves occur in whorls of three to ten; petioles are 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in); the leathery leaves are narrowly obovate to very narrowly spathulate, base cuneate, apex usually rounded; lateral veins occur in 25 to 50 pairs, at 80–90° to midvein. Cymes are dense and pubescent; peduncle is 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) long. Pedicels are usually as long as or shorter than calyx. The corolla is white and tube-like, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in); lobes are broadly ovate or broadly obovate, 2–4.5 mm (0.079–0.177 in), overlapping to the left. The ovaries are distinct and pubescent. The follicles are distinct and linear.
Flowers bloom in the month October. The flowers are very fragrant similar to the flower of Cestrum nocturnum.
Seeds of A. scholaris are oblong, with ciliated margins, and ends with tufts of hairs 1.5–2 cm (0.59–0.79 in).[5] The bark is almost odorless and very bitter, with abundant bitter and milky sap.
Distribution[]
Alstonia scholaris is native to the following regions:[3]
- China: Guangxi, Yunnan
- Indian subcontinent: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam[6]
- Australia: Queensland
Alstonia scholaris is the state tree of West Bengal, India.
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 content of the bark, an alkaloid.[7]
Uses[]
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 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, .[citation needed]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Saptaparni_%28Alstonia_scholaris%29_leaves_%26_flowers_in_Kolkata_W_IMG_0534.jpg/220px-Saptaparni_%28Alstonia_scholaris%29_leaves_%26_flowers_in_Kolkata_W_IMG_0534.jpg)
The wood of Alstonia scholaris has been recommended for the manufacture of pencils, as it is suitable in nature and the tree grows rapidly and is easy to cultivate.[8] In Sri Lanka its light wood is used for coffins. In Borneo the wood close to the root is very light and of white color, and is used for net floats, household utensils, trenchers, corks, etc.[9] In Theravada Buddhism, the first Buddha is said to have used Alstonia scholaris as the tree for achieving enlightenment.
The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that "The powerfully bitter bark of this tree is used by the natives [sic] 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 (Pharm. 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]. For further information see Dymock (Materia Medica of Western India). Most writers who speak of it at all speak of it in terms of the highest praise. A very full account of the various substances which have been extracted from this bark will be found in Watt's Dict., 3rd suppt., Part i., page 688 et seq."[10]
At one time, decoctions of the leaves were used for beriberi.[4]
Chemistry[]
The bark contains the alkaloids , ,[citation needed] [7] and strictamine.[11] Echitamine is the most important alkaloid found in the bark, it has been detected in all samples studied, from different collection locations, and is also detected in bark commercially sold as herbal medicine.[12]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Devil_Tree_Blossom.jpg/220px-Devil_Tree_Blossom.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Alstonia_scholaris4922818774_2c30e78d11_o.jpg/220px-Alstonia_scholaris4922818774_2c30e78d11_o.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Alstonia_scholaris.jpg/220px-Alstonia_scholaris.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Bark_of_Alstonia_scholaris.jpg/220px-Bark_of_Alstonia_scholaris.jpg)
References[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alstonia scholaris. |
- ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Alstonia scholaris". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 1998: e.T32295A9688408. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32295A9688408.en.
- ^ GBIF.org (07 June 2018) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.eokqvq Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Alstonia scholaris". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2012-03-30.
- ^ Jump up to: a b http://www.stuartxchange.org/Dita.html retrieved on 29 June 2007
- ^ http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200018323 retrieved on 29 June 2007
- ^ Simon Gardner, Pindar Sidisunthorn and Lai Ee May, 2011. Heritage Trees of Penang. Penang: Areca Books. ISBN 978-967-57190-6-6
- ^ Jump up to: a b Baliga, Manjeshwar Shrinath; Jagetia, Ganesh Chandra; Ulloor, Jagadish N.; Baliga, Manjeshwar Poonam; Ponemone, Venkatesh; Reddy, Rosi; Rao, Mallikarjun K. V. N.; Baliga, Shivanada Bantwal; Devi, Sulochana; Raju, Sudheer Kumar; Veeresh, Veerapura; Reddy, Tiyyagura Koti; Bairy, Laxminarayana K. (2004). "The evaluation of the acute toxicity and long term safety of hydroalcoholic extract of Sapthaparna (Alstonia scholaris) in mice and rats". Toxicology Letters. 151: 317–326.
- ^ Tonanont, N. Wood used in pencil making. Vanasarn 1974 Vol. 32 No. 3 pp. 225–227
- ^ "retrieved on 29 June 2007". Botanical.com. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
- ^ J. H. Maiden (1889). The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
- ^ Bhattacharya, S. K.; Bose, R.; Dutta, S. C.; Ray, A. B.; Guha, S. R. (1979). "Neuropharmacological studies on strictamine isolated from Alstonia scholaris". Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 17 (6): 598–600. PMID 500142.
- ^ Yamauchi, Tatsuo; Abe, Fumiko; Padolina, William G.; Dayrit, Fabian M. (1990). "Alkaloids from leaves and bark of Alstonia scholaris in the Philippines". Phytochemistry. 29 (10): 3321–3325. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)80208-X. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Alstonia
- Flora of Guangxi
- Flora of Yunnan
- Flora of tropical Asia
- Trees of Australia
- Gentianales of Australia
- Flora of Queensland
- Least concern flora of Australia
- Least concern biota of Queensland
- Symbols of West Bengal