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Alstonia angustiloba Miq.

Family Name:	Apocynaceae
Synonyms:	Alstonia pneumatophora Monach. var. petiolata
Common Name:	Common Pulai, Pulai, 黑板树, 橡皮树

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Tiered
Maximum Height	25 m to 40 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Java
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree up to 40 m tall, with a pagoda-shaped crown, and tiered branching.
Trunk	Bark dark grey, smooth when young, becoming slightly cracked when it gets older. The wood is pale yellow and soft.
Foliage	Its four- to nine-whorled, stalked leaves have somewhat leathery leaf blades that are oval-shaped, glossy dark green above, pale green below, and 4.5–22 by 2.1–7 cm, with short tips. Its leaf blades also possess numerous secondary veins that are almost perpendicular to the midrib. Milky-white latex is exuded from the broken leaf parts.

Flowers	Its fragrant flowers are creamy white, 8.5 mm wide, and develop in clusters of 3–8 at the end of the twigs, on 3–14 cm-long shoots.
Fruit	Its fruits develop as a pair of pods that are smooth, 15–35 by 0.2–0.6 cm, covered with brown hairs, and contain many seeds. Its dark brown, wind-dispersed seeds are smooth, oblong, flat, and 5–7 by 1.3–1.5 mm.
Habitat	It grows in primary and secondary forests, in swamps, on hills, loam or sandy soils up to 200 m altitude. It is known locally from Western Catchment, Nee Soon, Bukit Mandai, Bukit Timah, Upper Pierce Reservoir, Tampines, Pulau Ubin, Mount Faber, and Lazarus Island.
Associated Fauna	It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the moths, Daphnis hypothous, and Parotis marginata. Its flowers are also insect-pollinated.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Latin Alstonia, commemorates Dr. Charles Alston (1685–1760), a professor of botany at Edinburgh University; Latin angustiloba means having narrow lobes, referring to the narrow calyx lobes of the flower
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In Southeast Asia countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, the plant is used in traditional medicine to treat headaches <1>, skin sores and gynecological problems. <2> It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported or verified by scientific research. As all Apocynaceae species, Alstonia angustiloba contain white, milky sap which can cause an allergic reaction especially for those with sensitive skin. Medical advice should be sought before use. Timber & Products: The soft wood is used in making floor boards, household items, matches, and posts. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There are 11 individuals of Alstonia angustiloba listed as Heritage Trees in Singapore. They are found all over Singapore. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It is planted along expressways, major roads, and in urban landscapes as an ornamental tree because of its attractive growth form. It is also tolerant of a wide range of soil types from waterlogged to drier conditions.
Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers) (Day, Night), Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form
Landscape Uses	General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Riverine, Shade Providing Tree / Palm

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden, Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Caterpillar Moth Food Plant (Leaves, Associated with: Parotis marginata)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Leathery

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Whorled
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Follicle

References

References	<1> Lin, K.W. (2005). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Jah Hut people in Malaysia. Indian Journal of Medical Science 59(4): 156-161. <2> Mulyoutami, E., Rismawan, R. & Joshi, L. (2009). Local knowledge and management of simpukng (forest gardens) among the Dayak people in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Forest Ecology and Mangement: 1-8.

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Master ID	1411
Species ID	2704
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.