Common Name: Stool Wood

General Information

Alstonia congensis is a tall forest tree capable of reaching 30 metres tall[].
Often harvested from the wild for medicinal use, the tree also supplies a useful timber that is traded. It is cultivated as an ornamental in some areas of Africa, its dense canopy making it a good shade tree[].
The tree is considered to be endangered in its native range[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western Tropical Africa - Liberia to Cameroon and Central African Republic, south to Angola and DR Congo.

Habitat

Tropical rainforest[]. Usually occurs in swampy localities, such as Raphia swamps, at elevations up to 500 metres, but it is sometimes also found on drier, rocky soils[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

About 15 alkaloids have been isolated from the root bark, stem bark and leaves of this tree with similar uses as A. boonei as a diuretic and hypotensive[].

A bark decoction is used to treat malaria, gonorrhoea, diarrhoea and other intestinal problems, rheumatic pain, and as a galactagogue[]. The bark is also applied as an antidote for arrow poison and as an anthelmintic[].

The latex is used to treat leucorrhoea, ulcers, scabies, yaws and headache[].

Lightly roasted leaves are smoked in a pipe as a remedy for cough[].

Other Uses

A latex obtained from the plant is used as an adulterant in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)[].

The heartwood is yellowish white, though darkening upon exposure to light; it is not distinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is straight, occasionally wavy; the texture moderately coarse; lustre is low; there is no distinctive odour or taste. The wood is soft, light in weight, interspersed with latex vessels and inclined to be gummy. It is perishable in the ground, and is susceptible to termites, borers, and to blue stain unless treated with preservative. It seasons rapidly with little or no degrade due to warping and checking; once dry it is fairly stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools, though the presence of latex can clog sawblades; it does not take nails or screws well; but glues corect. It is suitable for light carpentry, furniture, veneer, boxes, mouldings, pencils, match-splints, etc. It is used locally for making wooden bowls and plates, toys, masks, canoes, etc[, , , , ]. It is locally popular for the production of household implements because of its good working properties and stability[].

Propagation

Seed. Direct seeding is a preferred propagation method[].

In a vegetative propagation study, stem cuttings rooted best (63.3%) with NAA + IBA at 100 ppm[].

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