Devil's Tree
Alstonia scholaris
Description
A tall, evergreen tree with a straight, fluted trunk and fragrant, greenish-white flowers that bloom at night. Its leaves are distinctive, growing in whorls of seven (or sometimes more), which gives it a symmetrical appearance.
Common Uses
Daily Life Uses
- The flowers are highly fragrant, especially at night.
Medical Uses
- The bark contains bitter alkaloids, including ditamine, and is used in traditional medicine to treat malaria, diarrhea, and fever.
Industrial Uses
- The lightweight, fine-grained wood is commercially used for making pencils, coffins, and packing boxes.
General Uses
- It is a fast-growing tree that is often used in reforestation projects.
Fun Facts
The tree gets its species name 'scholaris' because its wood was traditionally used to make blackboards and wooden slates for schoolchildren in Southeast Asia.
Location
Lat: 13.08
Lon: 80.27