ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS (Linn.) R.Br. – Department of Forest & Wildlife UT Administration Chandigarh

Chandigarh Forests

Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh

ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS (Linn.) R.Br.


Division	Angiosperms
Class	Dicotledons
Subclass	Gamopetalae
Order	Gentianales
Series	Hypogynae
Family	Apocynaceae
Genus	Alstonia
Species	scholaris


Etymology:	In the honour of Dr. Charles Alston (1685-1760), Prof. of medicine in Edinburgh University.
Botanical name	Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R.Br.
Local/Trade names:	Chattin or Satwin or Shaitan Wood, Dita Bark Tree, Devils Tree, Scholar Tree, Saptparni.
Conservation status:	Commonly planted throughout India.
Digonestic features:	Yield latex; leaves in a whorls of 4-7.
Description:	A tree with buttressed trunk. Bark grey, somewhat rough with shallow fissures. Leaves usually in whorls of 4-7, obovate-elliptic, 5-15 x 2-7 cm, base attenuate to cuneate, apex obtusely acute. Inflorescence of superposed umble. Flowers greenish-white, 1.5 cm across. Fruit a divaricate follicle, 15-30 cm long. Seeds compressed, with a tuft of brownish hairs.
Phenology:	Fls.: Oct.-Nov. Frts.: March-June.
Distribution:	India. Sri Lanka, South-east. Asia from Myanmar and S. China through Malaysia to New Guinea, Queensland and Africa.
Where to see it:	Near Energy Park, Gate No. 2 side and Nursery.
Uses:	Bark ( Dita Brk) bitter tonic, febrifuge, anthelmintic and galactagogue, used in the form of liquid extract of tincture for chronic, diarrhoea, asthma, and cardiac troubles; also used as an haemostatic. Bark contains several alkaloids (16-0.27%), echitamine being the chief constituent. Leaves used in beri-beri, dropsy, and congested liver. Latex applied to sores, ulcers, tumours, and rheumatic swellings. Flowers yield an essential oil the alkaloid picrinine which acts as a depressant on the central nervous system. Wood used for packing cases, tea-boxes, writing boards, lamin boards, minor furniture, frames, and scabbards; also for veneers and plywood, match-splints, inferior quality pencils, and paper industry. Wood charcoal used for gun-powder. Bark yields a fibre. Ash of the plant employed as caustic to open abscesses.

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Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden is the Head of the Department. There is one post of Conservator of Forests & two posts of Deputy Conservator of Forests viz.

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