What is Alstonia?
alstonia is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs in the Dogbane family, Apocynaceae. There are alstonia species from the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, Central America, Polynesia and Southeast Asia. Trees can reach a height of 200 feet (60 meters). There are five sections in the alstonia : alstonia , blaberopus , disistaspermum , Monuraspermum and tonduzia . The bark, leaves and sap have many uses in traditional medicine.
These plants have small, fragrant flowers that can be white, pink, yellow or green. They mature into dark blue, fruit in shape. a. Macrophylla , commonly called a devilish tree, is also called Wig Banyan in Sri Lanka, because it is assumed that flowers resemble a long wig of a woman.
a. Longifolia , the only species growing in Central America is usually a shrub, but can reach 66 feet (30 meters). a. Constricta , commonly called chinin bush or hOřký Bark, grows only in eastern Australia and is the only subtropical member of the family. Its bark is used in homeopathic and traditional medicine to treat dysewood and diarrhea, fever and parasitic worms. a. Angustifolia , originally from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, is used to treat headaches. The sap of different types of alstonia is sometimes used to treat coughs, fever and sore throat, even if it is poisonous.
a. Scholaris , originally from South and Southeast Asia, China and Australia, is another important healing species. It is commonly called Blackboard Tree, Indian Devil Tree and Pulai, a. Scholars is used to treat malaria as an alternative to quinine. The bark was also historically used to treat diarrhea and fever, to promote blood flow and to treat injuries, while the leaves were used with beriberi.
wood a. scholaris is used in coffins nAnd Sri Lanka and for clean floats and dishes in Borneo. Other species are used as commercial wood in Indonesia and Malaysia. Wood from plants of alstonia is light, while plants disistaresm and monuraraspermum are harder.
Some types alstonia are very rare. a. Annamensis only grows in Vietnam and is endangered. a. Beatricis has a vulnerable state of protection and grows only in Indonesia. Other vulnerable species are a. Breviloba , limited to Papua -nová Guinea, a. Henryi , which grows only in China and a. Penangiana , endemic to Malaysia. a.