Common Name:

General Information

Alstonia spatulata is a tree; it usually grows up to 25 metres tall, though occasionally reaches 30 metres. The bole is at first cylindrical, becoming fluted and shortly buttressed at the base, it is up to 40 cm in diameter, occasionallly to 75cm[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a sourc of medicines, chewing gum, wood, cork and latex.
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea.

Habitat

A sub-canopy tree, scattered on poorly drained, frequently flooded, clay-rich alluvium and on gley soils on undulating land, particularly near streams, usually at elevations below 300 metres. It is often abundant in secondary or shrub vegetation[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The latex is used to make a chewing gum[].

Medicinal

An aqueous extract of the bark is used throughout West Sumatra as a natural remedy for diabetes mellitus[]. An extract of the pounded bark is an ingredient of febrifuges and vermifuges[].

The latex is applied to sores and skin diseases[].

Other Uses

The trunk contains a copious, white latex[]. It is used to make a chewing gum[].

The wood of the roots is used for pith helmets, rafts, rafters for fishery and as a replacement for cork[].

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 -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: 10 times itself is?