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Alstonia spatulata Blume

Family Name:	Apocynaceae
Synonyms:	Alstonia cochinchensis, Alstonia cuneata
Common Name:	Marsh Pulai, Hard Milkwood, Siamese Balsa, Pulai Basong, Basong, Pokok Rejang, Pulai Paya, Pulai Putih

Alstonia spatulata or Marsh Pulai is a native tree of Singapore, measuring between 10 - 25 m tall. It has spoon to drop-shaped leaves, light yellow, cream to white fragrant flowers and petals with a wavy margin. Given its tolerance to waterlogging, Marsh Pulai is selected to grow along urban canals, pond edge plantings, areas in parks and gardens that are waterlogged.

Full Sun

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Tree

Name

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

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	25 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Myanmar, Indochina, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Borneo, to New Guinea
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Riverine, Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	Alstonia spatulata is a small to large tree, 10- 25 m tall, forming symmetrical buttresses to 1.2m high
Trunk	The bark of the Marsh Pulai is a pale - dark grey to almost black, smooth, scaly or very slightly fissured, peeling off in square/ rectangular flakes,
Foliage	The leaves of Alstonia spatulata are arranged in whorls of 3-5, without distinct intrapetiolar stipule at the base of the leaf stalk; leaf stalks short, slightly winged, 4-15mm in length. Leaf blades papery to the touch (coriaceous), spatulate (spoon shape) to obovate (drop shape) that are 3-12 by 1.8-4.8 cm, apex of leaves rounded, sometimes retuse. Upper surface of leaves glossy green, under surface pale green. Leaves with 20-40 pairs of lateral veins that are closely spaced and almost perpendicular to the mid rib. Leaf stalks slightly winged.

Flowers	Inflorescence 3-11cm long, with 3-6 fragrant, white to light yellow to cream colored flowers arranged in a loose cluster. Calyx glabrous; Cororlla glabrous (without hairs) on the outside, corolla lobes with undulate (wavy) margins, spreading or almost reflexed in the open flower
Fruit	Its fruits are long, slender follicles, borne in pairs, 12-25 cm long by 2.5-3 mm wide, containing numerous seeds.
Habitat	It grows in swamp forests, mostly in secondary vegetation, on sandy soils up to 600 m altitude.
Similar	Similar to Alstonia pneumatophora in leaf shape, size and venation, but can be immediately told apart from A. pneumatophora as Alstonia spatulata does not have pneumatophore roots (knee like breathing roots). It also differs from A. pneumatophora in the number of pairs of secondary veins on the leaves (18-30 pairs in A. pneumatophora compared to 20-40 pairs in A. spatulata), having a glabrous calyx , and the glabrous fruits.
Associated Fauna	The fragrant flowers are insect pollinated. It is also the food plant for caterpillars of the moth Parotis marginata.
Cultivation	Alstonia spatulata can be propagated by seeds.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: Traditional Medicinal Uses In Southeast Asia countries like Indonesia, the plant is used in traditional medicine to treat toothaches <1>, diabetics, sores and skin diseases <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 allergic reactions especially for those with sensitive skins. Medical advice should be sought before use. Timber & Products: The lightweight trunk wood of Alstonia spatulata is commonly used for household items, carvings, floats, and plywood. The plywood is used for coffins in Peninsular Malaysia, and for floats for nets in Thailand, and Sumatra. Pith helmets were manufactured from the wood of the roots. The lightweight root wood is also used as a cork substitute. Cut - Dried Flower: The fragrant flowers of the Marsh Pulai are used in garlands.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It is suitable for growing in urban canals, pond edge plantings, in waterlogged areas in parks and gardens as it withstands and stabilises waterlogged soils.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden, Water Garden, Marsh Garden, Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Lots of Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance

Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site, Does not Drain Site)

Foliar

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

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Whorled
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate)
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Rounded
Foliar Base	Cuneate
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

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

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> Diba, F., Yusro, F., Mariani, Y. & Ohtani, K. (2013). Inventory and biodiversity of medicinal plants from tropical forest based on traditional knowledge by ethnic Dayaknese communities in West Kalimantan Indoneisa. Kuroshio Science 7(1): 75-80. <2> Plant Resource Of Southeast Asia (continuously updated). Alstonia spatulata (PROSEA) - PlantUse. https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Alstonia_spatulata_(PROSEA). Accessed 19 October 2023.

References

<1> Diba, F., Yusro, F., Mariani, Y. & Ohtani, K. (2013). Inventory and biodiversity of medicinal plants from tropical forest based on traditional knowledge by ethnic Dayaknese communities in West Kalimantan Indoneisa. Kuroshio Science 7(1): 75-80.

<2> Plant Resource Of Southeast Asia (continuously updated). Alstonia spatulata (PROSEA) - PlantUse. https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Alstonia_spatulata_(PROSEA). Accessed 19 October 2023.

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Master ID	1413
Species ID	2706
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.