Alstonia macrophylla

Content

Description

Small or big tree 3-40(-50) m high, 5-100 cm dbh, buttresses usually absent or small up to 1 m high and spreading up to 2 m at the base. Bark smooth or rough, minutely scaly, shallowly longitudinally fissured or both longitudinally and horizontally fissured, silver grey to dark brown; Branchlets glabrous. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; Inflorescence 2-11 cm long, many-flowered; Flowers fragrant. Sepals connate at the base for 0.5-0.8 mm, ovate or broadly ovate, sometimes turbinate, 1-2.5 by 0.8-1.8 mm, obtuse or rounded, sometimes mucronulate, ciliate, glabrous or puberulous outside, glabrous inside, erect or slightly spreading. Stamens inserted at 2.5-3.8(-4.1) mm from the base; Fruit a pair of follicles, 25-62 cm by 2-4(-4.5) mm, glabrous. Seeds elliptic (sometimes slightly ovate), 5-10.5(-12) by 1.6-2.5 mm, pubescent on both sides, one end acuminate with an acumen 1-5 mm long (sometimes bifid at the apex), the other end rounded (rarely obtuse);

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Cambodia (Cambodia present); India present; Jawa (Jawa absent); Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi absent); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Nicobar Islands present, Nusa Tenggara absent

Sri Lanka, India (Nicobar Islands), Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: throughout (except Java, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara).

Taxonomy

Alstonia macrophylla is a widespread and very variable species. For discussion see

Uses

Powdered bark mixed with water is used as a traditional medicine, especially against skin diseases. It is also used to treat dysentery. The wood is hard and attractive and is very suitable for making furniture and flooring.

Citation

M. Gangop. & Chakr. 1992 – In: J. Econ. Taxon. Bot.: 31

King & Gamble 1907 – In: J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal: 439

G. Don 1989: Checklist Sulawesi: 14

H. Huber 1973 – In: Abeyw. (ed.), Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 1: 12

G. Don 1993 – In: PROSEA: 88

Whitmore et al. 1990: Checklist Kalimantan: 25

Markgr. 1927 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 179

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 347

D.J. Middleton 2004 – In: Tree Fl. Sabah & Sarawak: 20

D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Fl. Thailand: 44

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 438

Kerr 1939 – In: Craib, Fl. Siam. 2: 440

Miq. 1861 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 556

G. Don 2001 – In: PROSEA: 66

Whitmore et al. 1989: Checklist Maluku: 14

H. Huber 1983 – In: Abeyw. (ed.), Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 4: 41

Whitmore et al. 1997: Checklist Irian Jaya: 16

Corner 1952 – In: Wayside Trees Malaya, ed. 2: 142

Whitmore & Tantra 1986: Checklist Sumatra: 19

Burkill 1935 – In: Dict. Econ. Prod. Malay Penins.: 113

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 348

Markgr. 1927 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 178

Whitmore et al. 1997: Checklist Irian Jaya: 16

Markgr. 1927 – In: Bot. Jahrb. Syst.: 178

Cockburn 1976 – In: Trees Sabah: 18

A.DC. 1844 – In: Prodr.: 409

Masam. 1942: Enum. Phan. Born.: 617

Monach. 1949 – In: Pacific Sci.: 167

Sidiy. 1998 – In: Blumea: 149

Merr. 1921: Bibliogr. Enum. Born. Pl.: 497