Milky pine
Alstonia scholaris, Fam. Apocynaceae
Medium to tall tree, usually does not grow more than 20m in cultivation, branches in whorls and large specimens have a longitudinally furrowed trunk. It has a distinctive layered form, grey bark, rough at the base, that exudes milky sap if damaged.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Med tree, Large Tree |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Whorled Broad, elliptic, glossy dark green, 7.5-15 x 3-5cm, arranged in whorls of four to seven at intervals along branchlets. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Cream |
| Flower description: | Fragrant, small, cream, in small dense terminal clusters. October to December. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown, Green |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Two lobed, pendulous follicles, ripening from green to brown, to 30cm long. Thin seed with a hairy tuft at each end for wind dispersal. |
| Habitat: | Rainforest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, Malesia, Asia. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, Malesia, Asia. |
| Notes: | Fast growing tree, especially suitable for parks or larger areas. Propagate from fresh seed or cuttings. |
| Information sources: | Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics., Society for Growing Australian Plants. Mackay Branch. (1989). One hundred and one trees of Mackay. |
