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Project Noah Nature School
Alstonia scholaris
Tall, stately, species of Alstonia probably A. scholaris (although there are several species of the genus recorded for New Guinea). This/these specimens are very tall and relatively close to rainforest. Leaves are palmately compound and leaflets are elliptical to ovate (see last photo). Tree sap is white and sticky, perhaps an irritant. Fruiting bodies are bifurcated pendant long thin strands, like thin string beans, each for may be 40-45 cm long. See http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...
Growing on a school campus in the lower foothills of the Cyclops mountains of equatorial northern New Guinea.
"Shaitan [language] and the English name Devil’s Tree refer to the malefic magic properties that folklore endows the tree with.The tree is protected by its evil reputation. Tribals of the Western Ghats are unwilling to even pass under this tree for fear of its resident evil spirits. To fall asleep under it is considered a certain way to invite death from the tree’s guardians". --Maneka Gandhi, "On the Mythology of Indian Plants".
Spotted on Dec 12, 2012
Submitted on Dec 13, 2012
5 Comments
Indeed, should be easy, :-)
There's the parent! Yeah, keep your eyes out for seeds, now you know exactly what to look for.
It is an awesome tree. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for seeds! Thanks, Mark!
Majestic.
Thanks Tabris, I think that's likely :-)