Alstonia spatulata

Content

Description

Tree 10-25 m high, 15-40 cm dbh, sometimes forming plank symmetrical buttresses up to 1.20 m high (bottle-shaped at the base known in New Guinea). Bark smooth, scaly or finely fissured and peeling off in square or rectangular flakes, pale to dark grey or almost black; Branchlets glabrous. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4 (or 5); Inflorescence 3-11 cm long, few (3-6)-flowered on each cluster; Flowers fragrant. Sepals connate at the base for 0.2-0.4 mm, ovate, sometimes broadly ovate or subtriangular, (1.2-)1.5-2 by 1-1.6(-2) mm, erect, obtuse or rounded, ciliate, glabrous on both sides. Stamens inserted at 5-6.5 mm from the base; Fruit a pair of follicles, 12-25 cm by 2.5-3 mm, glabrous. Seeds oblong, 5-6 by 1.6-2.2 mm, ends obtuse or rounded, glabrous with very minute reticulate structure on both surfaces, thickened margin distinct on the hilar side, longest cilia (12-)15-22 mm long, becoming shorter (rarely glabrous) at the margins.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Cambodia (Cambodia present); Jawa (Jawa present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); New Guinea present; Sumatera (Sumatera present); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present

Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam; in Malesia: Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Java, New Guinea.

Uses

The wood can be used for household items, carving and plywood. The root wood is light and can be used as a substitute for cork. The latex is used in medicine for sores and skin ailments.

Citation

P.S. Ashton 1988 – In: Man. non-Dipt. Trees Sarawak: 26

D.J. Middleton 1999 – In: Fl. Thailand: 46

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

Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 346

Backer & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 226

King & Gamble 1907 – In: J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal: 437

Burkill 1935 – In: Dict. Econ. Prod. Malay Penins.: 115

D.J. Middleton 2004 – In: Tree Fl. Sabah & Sarawak: 23

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

F.G. Browne 1955: Forest Trees Sarawak & Brunei: 63

Monach. 1949 – In: Pacific Sci.: 153

Smythies 1965: Common Sarawak Trees: 20

Whitmore et al. 1990: Checklist Kalimantan: 25

J.A.R. Anderson 1980: Checklist Trees Sarawak: 148

J.A.R. Anderson 1972: Tr. Peat Swamp For. Sarawak: 23

Whitmore & Tantra 1986: Checklist Sumatra: 19

Sidiy. 1998 – In: Blumea: 181

Blume 1993 – In: PROSEA: 89

Miq. 1857 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 437

I.M. Turner 1997 – In: Gard. Bull. Singapore 47: 123

Hook.f. 1882 – In: Fl. Brit. India: 642

I.M. Turner 1993 – In: Gard. Bull. Singapore 45: 35

Markgr. 1974 – In: Blumea: 25

Coode et al. 1996: Checklist Pl. Brunei: 25

Merr. 1921: Bibliogr. Enum. Born. Pl.: 498

Blume 2001 – In: PROSEA: 68

Cockburn 1976 – In: Trees Sabah: 18