Native Plants

Alstonia scholaris

Pulai
LC
Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2021
LC
Least Concern
Malaysia Plant Red List
Peninsular Malaysia 2021
LC
Least Concern
Peninsular Malaysia Plant Red List *
2011
* Assessed according to the IUCN Red List Categories & Criteria Version 3.1
QR Code
SSN 31296
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Taxonomy

  • Kingdom
  • Division
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Specific Epithet
    scholaris (L.) R.Br.
  • Synonym
  • Vernacular Name
  • Residential
    Native
The taxonomic status is pending for approval

Description

Blackboard Tree (Alstonia scholaris) or more known as "Pulai" in Malay, is a type of medium-sized to large tree with around 50 m tall and 130 cm diameter. The bark of this tree is smooth, scaly or shallowly fissured and peeling off in rectangular flakes. The colour of the bark is fawn or light brown.  This tree will form a tall and steep buttress to 10 m high, spreading for up to 4 m at the base. The inner bark is granular with copious white latex. The leaves are arranged in whorls. It has a distinct intrapetiolar stipule at the base of the petiole, with corolla pubescent or puberulous outside. 

This species is distributed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, China, Malesia, Australia and the Solomon Islands. In Malaysia, it is recorded to be found in Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. It is common in lowland to hill dipterocarp forest, secondary forest and sometimes on limestone or quartzite (Middleton, 2011).

Habitats

No Description Suitability Seasonality
1
Forest → Lowland Dipterocarp Forest (Malayan, Burmese)
Unknown Unknown
2
Forest → Upper Hill Dipterocarp Forest
Approximately 762-1219 m (2500-400 ft) above sea level in inland ranges; 609-914 m (2000-3000 ft) in isolated mountains and coastal ranges
Unknown Unknown
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3

Assessment

Year Published Assessment Red List Category Version
2021 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
3.1
2021 Malaysia Plant Red List
Least Concern (LC)
Peninsular Malaysia
N/A
2011 Peninsular Malaysia Plant Red List
Least Concern (LC)
N/A
1998 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
2.3

Structure

Bark
Type
Flat surface lacking in ridges, furrows, and similar features
Smooth
Flower
Color
 
White
Leaf
2D Shape
 
Elliptic
Leaf Apex
2D Shape
Having a short sharp apex
Acute
Leaf Base
2D Shape
 
Cuneate
 
Rounded

Location

by State Location
  • Johore 1
  • Kelantan 1
  • Pahang 2
  • Perak 2
  • Selangor 5
  • Terengganu 3
  • Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur 1
by Protected Areas Location
  • Wildlife Sanctuary/Reserve 1
Based on publications, specimens, and images

Biodiversity Experts

Profile
Ahmad Aldrie Amir (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • History
  • Law and Policy
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Anisah Lee Abdullah (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Coral Reefs
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Geoinformatics
  • Management
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Protected Areas
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Water
  • PM
  • SBH
Asyraf Mansor (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Evolution
  • Forest
  • PM
Chong Ju Lian (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • Protected Areas
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Climate Change
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Kartini Binti Saibeh (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
  • Vascular
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • SBH
Mohamad Azani Alias (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular
  • Vascular
  • Amphibians
  • Amphibians
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Climate Change
  • Protected Areas
  • Forest
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Mohd Fahmi Abu Bakar (Ts. Dr.)
Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA)
  • Vascular
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • Systematics
  • PM
Mohd Norfaizal Ghazalli (Dr.)
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
  • Vascular
  • Pitcher plants
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Science
  • Systematics
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
Nazahatul Anis Amaludin (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • PM
Nor Ezzawanis Abdullah Thani (Mrs.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • PM
Nur Kyariatul Syafinie Abdul Majid (Ms.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Forest
  • Protected Areas
  • PM
Nur Supardi Md Noor (Dr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
  • Palms
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Conservation
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
  • W
Rusea Go (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
  • Orchids (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Environment
  • Forest
  • Management
  • Protected Areas
  • Climate Change
  • Invasive Alien Species
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Tam Sheh May (Dr.)
Taylor's University
  • Orchids
  • Vascular
  • Biodiversity
  • Data Analysis
  • Evolution
  • Genetics
  • Molecular
  • PM
Tan Swee Lian (Dr.)
Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM)
  • Vascular (Ecology)
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
Yong Kien Thai (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Moss
  • Vascular (Taxonomy)
  • Ferns (Taxonomy)
  • Protected Areas
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Evolution
  • Taxonomy
  • PM
  • SBH
  • SWK
  • SEA
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;

References

Article
  1. Ang, L.H. (1994). Problems and Prospects of Afforestation on Sandy Tin Tailings in Peninsular Malaysia. 7 (1), 87-105
  2. Chua, L.S.L., Chung, R.C.K., Sam, Y.Y., Chan, Y.C., Kamarudin, S., Moorthy, M., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Hamidah, M. & Lau, K.H. (2006). A Checklist of Seed Plants at Gunung Aais Forest Reserve, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 59 (2), 121-152
  3. Kiew, R. & Lim, C.L. (2020). Checklist of vascular plants of Klang Gates Quartz Ridge, Malaysia, a 14-km long quartz dyke. Phytokeys (166), 57-77. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.166.55778 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
  4. Latiff, A., Faridah-Hanum, I., Zainudin Ibrahim, A., Goh, M.W.K., Loo, A.H.B. & Tan, H.T.W. (1999). On the Vegetation and Flora of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplements (6), 11-72
Book
  1. Abdul Rahman, A.R., Mohd Nasir, A.H., Azmi, N., Nor Hasliza, M.B. & Latiff, A. (2014). Hutan Simpan Gunung Tebu, Terengganu: Pengurusan Hutan, Persekitaran Fizikal dan Kepelbagaian Biologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 343.
  2. Abdul Rahman, A.R., Koh, H.L., Muhamad, A., Wan Yusof, W.K. & Latiff, A. (2011). Hutan Simpan Melaka: Pengurusan Hutan, Persekitaran Fizikal, Kepelbagaian Biologi dan Socio-ekonomi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 315.
  3. Adnan, M., Zainuddin, A.F., Hamzah, M.A., Moorthy, M. & Mohamad Zaki, M.I. (2018). Koleksi Pokok Taman Botani Kepong. Institut Penyelidikan Perhutanan Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 1-234.
  4. Boo, C.M., Omar-Hor, K. & Ou-Yang, C.L. (2003). 1001 Garden Plants in Singapore. National Parks Board, Singapore. pp. 501.
  5. Chew, M.Y., Salleh, N., Azeman, S., Yap, J.W., Sam, Y.Y. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Wayside Trees: The Natural Pillars and Roofs of the Perdana Botanical Garden. Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 182.
  6. Faridah-Hanum, I. & Shamsul, K. (2004). A guide to the common plants of Ayer Hitam Forest, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press, Serdang, Malaysia. pp. 220.
  7. Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G., Soepadmo, E. & Boyce, P.C. (2011). Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, Series II: Seed Plants, Volume 2. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 329.
  8. Latiff, A. (2010). Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve: Green Lung of Kuala Lumpur. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 100.
  9. Ong, H.C. (2004). Tumbuhan Liar: Khasiat & Kegunaan Lain. Utusan Publications & Distribution Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia. pp. 241.
  10. Paul Chai, P.K. (2006). Medicinal Plants of Sarawak. pp. 212.
  11. Phang, S.M., Affendi, Y.A., Ooi, J.L.S. & Haji, A.J.M. (2008). Natural History of The Pulau Tioman Group of Islands. Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), University of Malaya, Malaysia. pp. 292.
  12. Shaharuddin, M.I., Sahidin, A.R., Nor, S.M., Jalil, M.S., Razani, U., Nik Mohd. Shah, N.M. & Latiff, A. (2005). Gunung Nuang, Selangor: Persekitaran Fizikal dan Kepelbagaian Biologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 221.
  13. Shaharuddin, M.I., Che, H.H., Mohd. Puat, Dahalan, Jalil, M.S., Norhaidi, Y. & Latiff, A. (2005). Hutan Simpan Ulu Muda, Kedah: Pengurusan, Persekitaran Fizikal Dan Biologi. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 310.
  14. Soepadmo, E., Saw, L.G. & Chung, R.C.K. (2004). Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak, Volume 5. Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Sarawak Forestry Department, Malaysia. pp. 528.
  15. Yong, W.S.Y., Chua, L.S.L., Lau, K.H., Siti-Nur Fatinah, K., Cheah, Y.H., Yao, T.L., Rafidah, A.R., Lim, C.L., Syahida-Emiza, S., Ummul Nazrah, A.R., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Chew, M.Y., Siti Munirah, M.Y., Julius, A., Phoon, S.N., Sam, Y.Y., Nadiah, I., Ong, P.T., Sarah Nabila, R., Suhaida, M., Muhammad-Alif Azyraf, A., Siti Eryani, S., Yap, J.W., Jutta, M., Azeman, S., Salleh, N., Kiew, R. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Malaysia Red List: Plants of Peninsular Malaysia, Volume 1, Issue/No. 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 107.
  16. Yong, W.S.Y., Chua, L.S.L., Lau, K.H., Siti-Nur Fatinah, K., Cheah, Y.H., Yao, T.L., Rafidah, A.R., Lim, C.L., Syahida-Emiza, S., Ummul Nazrah, A.R., Nor-Ezzawanis, A.T., Chew, M.Y., Siti Munirah, M.Y., Julius, A., Phoon, S.N., Sam, Y.Y., Nadiah, I., Ong, P.T., Sarah Nabila, R., Suhaida, M., Muhammad-Alif Azyraf, A., Siti Eryani, S., Yap, J.W., Jutta, M., Azeman, S., Salleh, N., Kiew, R. & Chung, R.C.K. (2021). Malaysia Red List: Plants of Peninsular Malaysia, Volume 1, Issue/No. 2. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia. pp. 316, 753.
Magazine/Bulletin
  1. Equivalent Timbers Of Southeast Asia. Timber Technology Bulletin (25), 2002. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysia.
Proceeding
  1. Conservation, Management and Development of Forest Resources: Proceedings of the Malaysia-United Kingdom Programme Workshop, 21-24 October 1996, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1996)

Acknowledgements :- Mr. Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Mrs. Faridah Anas, Ms. Heng Pooi San, Ms. Mira Farzana Binti Mohamad Mokhtar, Mr. Muhammad Izzuddin Bin Hazan, Ms. Noorkhalilie Binti Che Abd Aziz, Ms. Nur Diana Bt Mohd Rusdi, Ms. Nur Farahin Binti Mustafa, Mrs. Nur Hazwanie Binti Abd Halim, Ms. Nur Syahirah Binti Abd Hamid, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Ms. Nursyafiqa Madzlen, Ms. Nurul Aimi Amirah Binti Mohd Zaki, Ms. Nurul Aliya Imra Asyikin Binti Abd Murad, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat, Ms. Vanessa Ting Ching Ching & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin

Photo credit :- Ahmad Firdaus Zainuddin & Ahmad Firdaus bin Zainuddin

Species Citation :- Alstonia scholaris. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/31296. [Retrieved 07 December 2023].

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