Alstonia Scholaris

Alstonia Scholaris commonly known as Black board tree or Devil tree in english.
It belongs to the family of Apocynaceae. It is native to southern china, Tropical Asia and Australia.
Flowers blooms in the month of October. The flowers are very fragrant similar to the flower of cestrum nocturnum which is commonly known as jasmine. The bark is almost odorless and very bitter with milky sap.

It's is native to following regions :

• China: Guangxi, Yunnan
• Indian Subcontinent: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka 
• Southeast asia: Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua, New Guinea, Philippines and Thailand
• Australia: Queensland

Alstonia Scholaris is the state tree of West Bengal, India. 

During convocation the leaves of Alstonia
Scholaris (Saptaparni) are awarded to graduate and post graduate and scholars of Visva-Bharati University by chancellor who in turn always the prime minister of India
This Tradion was initiated by the founder of the university Gurudeb Rabindranath.

The wood of Alstonia Scholaris has been recommended for the manufacture of pencils. As the tree grows rapidly and is easy to cultivate. In Sri Lanka it's light wood is used for coffins. Bodhi by first Lord Buddha is said to have used Alstonia Scholaris as tree for achieving enlightenment.
It is proved a valuable remedy in chronic diarrhea and the advance stage of dysentery. 

The pharmacopoeia of India has described it as an Antiperiodic and Astringent tonic

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