Seeds dispersed by wind and pollinated by insect. Regular watering during dry season is essential for good growth and deep mulch is beneficial to young trees. Reaches max height of 35 m at ~40 years of age. Preferred soils include alluvia, basaltic red earth, yellow earth with grey-brown topsoil, stony red earth on basic volcanic soils, sandy grey earth, brown earth from a volcanic mixture of rocks and soils derived from metamorphic rocks.
Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Alstonia scholaris
Lumber
Medicinal
English Common Name
Devil's Tree
Indonesian Common Name
Pulai, Pule (Javanese), Rite (Ambon), Pulai gading
Tree Family
Apocynaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
17cm
Length
×
5.75cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1250m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Indonesia
Native to
Region
Asia, Oceania
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Indonesia
Borneo, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku Islands, New Guinea, Sulawesi, Sumatra
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Robusta
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Unknown
Prevalence
Common in Coffee Agroforestry
Cultivation
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Lumber
- Medicinal
A decoction of the bark is used as a tonic, to reduce fever, to stimulate menstrual discharge, to heal wounds, in treatment of abdominal pains, and has proved a valuable remedy for chronic diarrhea and the advanced stages of dysentery. The leaves are used for treating thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiencies, edema (swelling caused by fluid retention), and congested liver, and the latex for treating neuralgia (shooting pain due to nerve damage), toothache, and is applied to ulcers and used to treat rheumatic pains. The wood was formerly used for school blackboards, hence the name 'scholaris'. Wood used for making sculptures.
Farm Services
- Unknown
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Wild bees nest in large branches