ALSTONIA

Alstonia R. Br., Asclepiadeae: 64. 1810; DC., Prodr. 408: 1844; Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. Pl. 2: 705. 1876; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 3: 641. 1882; Talbot, For. Fl. 2: 215. 1911; Bailey, St. Cyclop. Hort. 1: 266. 1947; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bomb. 2: 194. 1904; De Jong in Meded Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 79(13). 1979; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 16: 154. 1995; Nazim. & Qaiser, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 5.

Trees or shrubs, latex present. Branches whorled, mostly 4 or 5 together. Leaves mostly whorled, rarely opposite; lateral veins numerous, ending in a marginal vein. Cymes terminal, usually 1-5 in thyrses or compound umbels. Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous, white, yellow or pink. Calyx without glands inside, tube short, lobes 5, connate at base. Corolla salverform, tube cylindric, dilated in distal half, pubescent inside (only at mouth), lobes 5, overlapping to right or left. Stamens 5, included, inserted near or above middle of corolla tube; anthers ovate, or lanceolate, free from pistil head, not caudate. Disc absent or of various shapes: annular, truncate or lobed. Ovaries 2, free or connate, ovules numerous; style filiform; stigma short or 2-toothed. Follicles 2, free or connate, cylindrical. Seeds oblong or linear, long bearded at both ends.

44 species

Alstonia scholaris

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Asclepiadeae: 64. 1810; DC., Prodr. 408: 1844; Bailey, St. Cyclop. Hort. 1: 266.1947; Brandis, For. Fl. 325.1874; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 3: 641. 1882; Talbot, For. Fl. 2: 215. 1911; Cooke, Fl. Pres. Bomb. 2: 194. 1904; Parker, For Fl. Punj. ed. 1:335. 1918 (Reprint 1973); ed. 3: 334. 1956; Talbot, For. Fl. 2: 215. 1911; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 16: 155; Nazim. & Qaiser, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 8; Echites scholaris L., Mant. Pl. 1: 53. 1767; Pala scholaris L. Roberty, Bull. Inst. Franc. Afrique Noire 15: 1426. 1953.

A tall evergreen tree up to 20 m or more, latex present; bark grey, rough, lenticellate branches glabrous. Branches whorled, mostly 4-5 together. Leaves (4-) 5-7 (-10)-whorled, coriaceous, glabrous and shining, 9-20 cm x 2-5 cm, oblong-lanceolate or obovate, obtuse or shortly acuminate with 25-60 pairs of lateral veins ending in a marginal vein, margin entire; petiole 5-10 mm long, ending in a hooked gland on upper side. Inflorescence umbellately branched, many-flowered, of capitate cymes, pubescent or tomentose; peduncle ca. 5 mm long; bracts oblong or lanceolate, acute pubescent. Flowers greenish white, 6-12 mm long and ca. 7 mm across, actinomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous. Calyx ca. 2 mm long, pubescent, persistent, lobes 5, oblong-ovate, obtuse. Corolla white, pubescent; tube cylindric, 6-10 mm long, dilated in distal half, apex of tube with fringed white scales; lobes 5, overlapping, ovate or broadly obovate, obtuse, 3-5 mm long. Stamens 5, included, inserted above the middle of corolla tube; anthers ovate, free from pistil head. Disc absent. Ovaries 2, free, pubescent, ovules numerous on parietal placentas; style filiform; stigma short, 2-fid. Follicles 2, free, linear, 30-60 cm x 2-5 mm, pendulous, in clusters. Seeds 6-7 mm long, oblong, margin ciliate, ends with tufts of hairs, 1.5-2 cm long.

Flowering and Fruiting: December to March
Common Names: Scholar Tree, Dita Bark, Devil Tree, Black board Tree; Saptaparini, Sattpattia, Shaitan Ka Jhar, Chitvan (Hindi)