Trees Planted & Survived
0+Projects
Mission 2030
Plant 10 Million = Sequester0
MT of CO₂ / Year
Trees Species Details
Scientific Name:
Alstonia scholaris
Marathi Name:
Saptaparni
Common Name:
Devil tree, Blackboard Tree
Plant Form:
Larrge tree (20–40 m) with straight trunk and broad crown.
Native/Exotic/Introduced:
Native
Distribution:
Throughout India, including sub-Himalayan and tropical regions.
Plant Characteristics:
Simple, elliptical leaves; fragrant white flowers in branched cymes; slender papery fruit follicles with silky-haired seeds; bark exudes milky latex when cut.
Required Growth conditions:
Prefers tropical to subtropical climates with moderate to high rainfall; grows in well-drained soils
Habitat:
Moist deciduous and evergreen forests, roadsides, urban parks, and gardens.
Conservation Status:
Least Concern (LC)
Dispersal:
Seeds dispersed by wind, aided by silky hairs that allow floating and wide dispersal after follicles split open
Pollinators:
Pollinated by nocturnal moths and daytime bees and butterflies.
Medicinal Information:
Respiratory diseases, fever, skin ailments, wounds, malaria; bark contains alkaloids with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory.
Bird Host Plant:
ND
Butterfly Host Plant:
ND
Moth Host Plant:
ND
Ecological Significance:
Aids soil stabilization; provides shade and shelter; latex deters herbivores; flowers support nocturnal pollinators; important canopy species supporting biodiversity and wild bees.
Cultural Significance:
Used in rituals, Ayurveda, and Jainism; historically used for blackboards; planted as ornamental
Air Pollution Tollerance Index (APTI):
No official APTI data available.
Other Uses:
Used for timber, furniture, plywood, and blackboards; toxic latex used for fish poisoning and chewing gum.