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TreeCultivatedPerennialMedicinal

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.

Gul-shetaan
Synonyms: Echites scholaris L.; Pala scholaris (L.) Roberty

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Description

Alstonia scholaris is a large evergreen tree, usually 15–30 m tall, with a straight trunk and a dense, rounded crown. The bark is grey to dark grey, rough, and exudes abundant white milky latex when cut. Branches are arranged in distinct whorls. Leaves are simple, leathery, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, borne in characteristic whorls of 4–8 at each node. Leaf blades are elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, with entire margins, a rounded to acute apex, and numerous closely parallel lateral veins. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary cymes bearing numerous small, greenish-white to creamy-white, highly fragrant flowers. The corolla is salver-shaped with five reflexed lobes. The fruit consists of a pair of long, slender cylindrical follicles, often pendent, containing numerous narrow seeds, each provided with a tuft of silky hairs at both ends for wind dispersal.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative
Large evergreen tree with abundant milky latex and leaves arranged in distinct whorls of 4–8.
Floral
Numerous small, fragrant greenish-white flowers borne in dense terminal cymes.
Fruit & Seed
Long paired follicles containing numerous silky-haired seeds adapted for wind dispersal.

Distribution

Native range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Introduced range: Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

In Pakistan: Commonly cultivated throughout Pakistan, as an ornamental and avenue tree.

Phenology

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Flowering
Fruiting
Flowering: October to December Fruiting: January to April

Ethnobotany & Uses

Traditional Medicine
The bark, leaves, and latex are widely used in traditional medicine for treating fever, malaria, diarrhoea, dysentery, respiratory disorders, skin diseases, and wounds. The bark contains numerous indole alkaloids, including echitamine, with reported antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and anticancer activities.
Other Uses
The lightweight wood is used for making blackboards, pencils, packing cases, matchsticks, plywood, and paper pulp, giving rise to the common name Scholar Tree. It is also extensively planted as an ornamental and shade tree because of its dense evergreen canopy and fragrant flowers.
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Where it grows on campus

South Campus68East-South-East Campus32West Campus8North-East Campus33North-North-West Campus35
176
individuals mapped across 5 zones
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Taxonomic Notes

Alstonia scholaris is the type species of the genus Alstonia and is readily recognized by its whorled leaves, abundant milky latex, fragrant greenish-white flowers, and paired slender follicles. It is one of the most widely planted ornamental trees in South and Southeast Asia and is easily distinguished from other members of the family by its characteristic leaf arrangement and numerous parallel lateral veins.