Species: Alstonia scholaris
Species ID: ANG0055
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
| Plantae | Tracheophyta | Magnoliopsida | Gentianales | Apocynaceae |
| Scientific Name: Alstonia scholaris | ||||
| Species Authority: (L.) R. Br. (1811), Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 1: 76 (1811). | ||||
| English Name: | Devil’s tree (Basak and Alam 2015). |
| Local Name/s: | Chhatim; Chaitan, Chaitani, Chaittan (Prain 1903, Rahman 2008, Basak and Alam 2015). |
| Synonym/s: | Echites scholaris L., 1767; Nerium tinctorium Perr.,1824
Alstonia kurzii Hook.f., 1882; Alstonia spectabilis Kurz, 1877 |
|
Taxonomic Notes:
According to Cronquist’s (1981) system of plant classification this species belongs to Taxonomic Division Magnoliophyta, Class Magnoliopsida Sub-Class Asteridae, Order Gentianales and Family Apocynaceae.
|
 Alstonia scholaris. Source: M.E. Rashid |
| Assessment Information: | |
| Red List Category
& Criteria (Status): |
Least Concern (LC) ver 3.1 |
| Justification: | Alstonia scholaris is widely distributed throughout the country including 14 protected areas. Based on 71 recorded localities its Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO), as calculated, are 1,24,284.21 km2 and 6,376 km2 respectively. Both of which are much higher than the upper threshold of IUCN Red List Threatened Category. At present no major threat to this species and no report on population decline are known. The plant is therefore listed as Least Concern (LC).
|
| Level of Assessment | Species |
| Date Assessed | September 2021 |
| History | In Bangladesh, the species has not been assessed following IUCN Red List Criteria. However, It has been regarded as Least Concern (LC) by Rahman (2008) while Uddin and Hassan (2018) cited its state of occurrence as Common in Bandarban, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachari and Rangamati but Rahman et al. (2018) cited as Endangered (EN) in Chattogram, CHTs and Cox’s Bazar. |
| Geographic Range | |
| Global Range | Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Solomon Isles, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Thailand, Viet Nam, Western Australia (POWO 2021, Ken 2021). |
| Global Status | Least Concern (LC) (WCMC 1998). |
| Global Population | Not known. |
| Local Range Description | It occurs in mixed evergreen forests of Bagerhat (Sarankhola Range, Sundarban Mangrove Forest); Bandarban (Babu Para, Renikhayong Para, Thanchi Road); Bogura (Sekandrabad); Chattogram (Hazarikhil, Baraiyadhala, CU Campus, Chanuti, Dudhpukuria-Dhopachari, Sandwip, Shitalpur, Isamoti, Sarkarhat, Khorerhat, Chandranath pahar, Sitakund, Chainda); Cox’s Bazar (Kelatuli, Fasiakhali, Himchari, Upper Rezu, Teknaf, Houlidia Palang, Eidgaon, Harbang, Chowfoldondhi); Cumilla (Lalmai Hills, Rajeshpur, Narayonpur, Adarsha Sadar, Kashipur, Chapitala); Dhaka (Dhamrai); Gaibanda (Gobindaganj); Gazipur (Ghagoti); Habiganj (Satchari); Khagrachari (Ramgarh, Betchori, Shantivilla, Maijchori, Dhonpata); Kishorgonj (Sultanpur); Kurigram (Andharishar); Luxmipur (Lusmipur sadar); Manikganj (Jaigir); Moulvi Bazar (Juri forest, Lawachara, Rajkandi, Adampur, Gobindapur); Munshigonj (Sadar); Mymensingh (Gafargaon, Trishal, Moragola); Narsingdi (Monohordi); Netrokona (Durgapur Hill Forest); Noakhali (Subarna char Island); Panchagar (Trinail); Pirojpur (Bhandaria); Rajshahi (Godagari); Rangamati (Pablakhali, Rampahar, Beganachari, Bamer Bagchori, Kaptai, Garichara, Khaskhali); Satkhira (Sakhipur); Sherpur (Runctia Sal Forest, Gajni); Sirajgonj (Chandigora); Sylhet (Khadimnagar, Boroikandi, Jaintia Hill); Takurgao (Jagannathpur, Ruhea); Tangail (Madhupur, Kalihati).
Sources: Sinclair 1956, Rahman et al. 2000, 2012a, 2012b, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019a, 2019b, Choudhury et al. 2004, Hossain et al. 2005, Alam et al. 2006, Momen et al. 2006, Islam et al. 2009, Uddin and Hassan 2010, 2018, Tutul et al. 2010, Sabuj and Rahman 2011, Arefin et al. 2011, Rahman 2013, 2017, Rahman and Alam 2013, Uddin et al. 2013a, 2013b, 2020, Sajib et al. 2014, 2015, Sarker et al. 2015, Nur et al. 2016, Haider et al. 2017, Jakariya et al. 2017, Hossain et al. 2017, Hossen and Hossain 2018, Rashid et al. 2018, Das et al. 2018, Sarker and Rahman 2019, Jannat et al. 2019, 2020, Rudra et al. 2020). Herbarium specimens are available at HCU, DACB, DUSH, BFRIH, BCSIRH.
|
| Presence in Protected Areas | It is present in 14 protected areas viz., Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary, Baraiyadhala National Park, Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhpukuria-Dhopachari Wildlife Sanctuary, Himchari National Park, Fasiakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaptai National Park, Satchari National Park, Lawachara National Park, Khadimnagar National Park, Madhupur National Park and Sundarbans (East) Wildlife Sanctuary. |
| Extent of Occurrence (EOO) | 1,24,284.21 km2 |
| Area of Occupancy (AOO) | 6,376 km2 |
| Range Map |  |
| Population | |
| Generation Time (Length) | Not known. |
| Total Population | Not known. |
| No. of Sub-population | Not known. |
| Trend | Seems stable due to its wider range of natural distribution throughout the country (Rahman and Rashid 2021). |
| Habitat and Ecology | |
| Habit | A tall evergreen tree with better milky juice (Rahman 2008). Height of 15 – 20 metres (www.floraofbangladesh.com). |
| Habitat | In open evergreen forests to moist deciduous forest (Rahman 2008). |
| Niche | Not known. |
| Elevation | Alt. up to 400 metres (https://elevationmap.net). |
| Threats | |
| Habitat Destruction | No major threat at present (Rahman 2008). |
| Encroachment | Habitat degradation in its occurrence sites due to encroachment (Rahman and Rashid 2021). |
| Pollution | No specific data on pollution. |
| Climate Change | Not known. |
| Invasive Species | Not known. |
| Agricultural Expansion | Some occurrence sides are destroying due to illegal extension for agricultural land (Rahman and Rashid 2021). |
| Other 1 | Habitat degradation in its occurrence sites due to human interference for developmental works (Rahman and Rashid 2021). |
| Other 2 | Illegal felling and firewood collection (Rahman and Rashid 2021). |
| Other 3 | |
| Uses | Wood is used for making pencil, tea boxes, matchstick, coffin, packing cases etc. Bark is used for the treatment of chronic diarrhea and dysentery (Kanjilal et al. 1939, www.floraofbangladesh.com). It is used to treat bowel complaints, abdominal pains, fevers and irregular menstruation, and has proved a valuable remedy for chronic diarrhea and the advanced stages of dysentery. A decoction is applied as a wash for skin diseases, and as a gargle (Ken 2021). |
| Conservation Actions | |
| CITES | Not applicable. |
| Other 1 | It occurs in 14 protected areas under in-situ conservation action. |
| Other 2 | Ex-situ Conservation action taken in IFESCU and Keochia, BFRI (Rahman et al. 2018). |
| Other 3 | It is also planted in Botanical Gardens, Parks and homestead areas as an ornamental plant as well (Rahman et al. 2017, 2019, Dutta et al. 2014). |
| Recommendations | |
| Research | Study on population size in each occurrence site should be carried out. |
| Management | Proper conservation management actions in the protected areas should be taken. |
| Other 1 | Reserve Forest Act should be properly implemented and the conservation management of the park should be improved in order to bring back the healthy process of natural regeneration and ecosystem diversity (Rahman et al. 2019). |
| Other 2 | Illegal felling and firewood collection should be checked. |
| Name of the Contributors | |
| Assessor: | Dr. Mohammad Enamur Rashid |
| Associate Assessor: | |
| Reviewer/s: | |
| Facilitator: | |
| Lead Assessor: | Prof. Dr. Mohammad Harun-ur-Rashid |