Common Name:

General Information

Alstonia angustiloba is a tree; it can grow up to 45 metres tall. The tall, straight bole is fluted, it can be up to 100cm in diameter, with straight buttresses up to 8 metres tall and spreading out at the base for about 1.5 metres[, ]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

A mid-canopy tree, common in mixed dipterocarp forest on low hills and undulating land, and in freshwater swamp forest, at elevations up to 200 metres. It becomes abundant in secondary forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	35.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Found in the wild on a wide variety of soils[].
A fast-growing plant[].

Edible Uses

A latex from the stems can be used to make chewing gum[].

Medicinal

The leaves are externally applied to the spleen area to treat remittent fever[].

The latex is used to heal boils, shingles and abscesses, ring worms, and to soothe toothaches[]. It is used with copper sulphate to treat the skin disease 'yaws'[].

An extract of the pounded bark is an ingredient of febrifuges and vermifuges[].

Other Uses

A copious white latex exudes from the stems[]. It is used medicinally and to make chewing gum[].

The wood is used as pulai[]. It is used for pencil manufacture, matches, tea chests, crates, plywood, pulp, carpentry and carving[].
We have no more specific information for this species, but the general description of pulai timber is as follows:-

The heartwood is a cream white to a light yellow; it is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is medium; grain straight, sometimes irregular or oblique; the aspect slightly lustrous. The wood is light in weight; soft to very soft; not very durable, being susceptible to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons rapidly with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable in service. It works well with normal tools, though these should be kept sharp to avoid fuzzy surfaces; filling is recommended in order to obtain a good finish; nailing and screwing are poor; gluing is correct. The wood is suitable for uses such as boxes and crates, interior panelling and joinery, matches, furniture and moulding[].

Propagation

Seed -

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