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Alstonia macrophylla

Wall. ex G.Don (1837)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Alstonia

devil tree, deviltree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees to 20 m tall, latex present.

Stems: Bark smooth, branches nearly 4–angled.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4. Blades narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, 10–53 X 4–19 cm. Apex usually acuminate. Upper surfaces pubescent; Blades leathery. Margins entire. Lateral veins 16–33 pairs, at 60–70° to midvein, ending in a marginal vein. Petioles 1–4 cm.

Flowers: Flowers in cymes terminal, 3–branched, 5–9 together, pubescent; peduncle 4–6 cm. pedicel 4–5 mm. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx without glands inside, lobes connate at base. Corolla salverform, tube cylindric, dilated in distal half, pubescent inside, tube slightly longer than lobes, 4.5–6 mm; lobes overlapping to right, ciliate; disc absent. Stamens 5, included; anthers ovate, free from pistil head, not caudate. Ovary superior, 2, distinct, glabrous; ovules numerous.

Fruit: Follicles 2; linear; to 61 cm X 2–5 mm. Seeds pubescent; ends with deltoid wings; with long stiff hairs all around; endosperm thin.

Ploidy: 2n = 22

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Gen. Hist. 4: 78 (1837)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1997:51 (NEWNAT/H); Herbst et al. 2004:3 (O); Daehler & Baker 2006:12 (O); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:154 (WM)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Alstonia macrophylla Nuuanu Judd trail Wet ridge top under shade of Casuarina equisetifolia. Surrounded by; Dicranopteris linearis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Citharexylum caudatum, Acacia koa, Metrosideros polymorpha. Preserved_Specimen 3-4 m in height average. Arthur, K. 31 Oahu BISH 2025-01-16
2 Alstonia macrophylla along trail to second (upper) waterfall, above Lyon Arboretum Psidium cattleianum forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m tall Daehler, C. 1058 Oahu BISH 2005-02-23
3 Alstonia macrophylla West Maui, Wailuku District, Waihee Vegetation: Degraded Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Lowland Wet Forest Preserved_Specimen Trees to 4 m tall with spreading crown, white latex Oppenheimer, H.L. 102401 Maui BISH 2024-10-28
4 Alstonia macrophylla Wahiawa- Kaukonahua Stream, Waihi Farms. Emerging from Psidium cattleianum canopy, also growing under Albizias. Preserved_Specimen Tall trees with thin branches, leaves at tips. Tallest tree around 40 feet. Flowers not present, fruits hanging pods. OISC 2011112801 Oahu BISH 2011-11-28
5 Alstonia macrophylla E. Maui, Kihei, Kamaole, Lioholo Pl. HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 4/5/2007
6 Alstonia macrophylla Off of Likelike Hwy Growing with Dicranopteris linearis, Schefflera actinophylla, Psidium cattleianum. Preserved_Specimen Leaves whorled in 4s; no sap but growing tip with gummy substance. Souza, D. Oahu BISH 2003-04-11
7 Alstonia macrophylla West Maui, Wailuku District, Kahakuloa, Camp Maluhia Preserved_Specimen Large tree, about 60 feet tall with white flowers, milky sap. Herbst, D.R. 9810 Maui BISH 1997-01-21
8 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 1/5/2011
9 Alstonia macrophylla East Maui, Kihei, Kamaole, Lioholo Pl HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 4/5/2007
10 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, above University of Hawaii at Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 4/2/2016
11 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 1/5/2011
12 Alstonia macrophylla Keaau, Mr. Shipman's place Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. Hawaii BISH 1949-08-02
13 Alstonia macrophylla Living collections of Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Tree 50' tall. Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1993-03-11
14 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, above University of Hawaii at Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 4/2/2016
15 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, forested banks of Ponahowai Road, opposite Mormon Church Secondary non-native vegetation Preserved_Specimen tree, up to 14 m tall, trunk gray, immature fruit pendent green maturing light brown, naturalized and occasional along road Wood, K.R. 14629 Hawaii BISH 2011-04-30
16 Alstonia macrophylla Pepeekeo; mauka of Hwy 19 directly across from the Hilo Processing Co. quarry site, near entrance to D. Carlsmith estate In pasture land with exotics such as guava; rose apple. Preserved_Specimen Takiue, T. Hawaii BISH 1991-02-25
17 Alstonia macrophylla Lawai Valley: Lawai-Kai. Koloa District Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Tree of 20'. Sap milky; leaves dark, glossy green above w/pale whitish-green midvein, below dull pale green w/whitish-green mid- and lateral veins. Immature fruit green, pendent. Flynn, T.W. 3320 Kauai BISH 1989-04-13
18 Alstonia macrophylla Schofield Barracks, South Range. Associated canopy: Falcataria moluccana, Eucalyptus robusta, Schinus terebinthifolius. Understory: Urochloa maxima. Preserved_Specimen Single tree 5-8 m tall. Leaves plumeria-like in shape and size, but not texture. Sterile. Cut wood of 3 inch diam branch not yellow. No sap. No seedlings present but definitely looked naturalized. Beachy, J. 486 Oahu BISH 2018-02-14
19 Alstonia macrophylla Manoa Valley. Puu Pia trail Low canopied, ridgetop forest dominated by Psidium cattleianum with remnant Metrosideros polymorpha and Acacia koa. Preserved_Specimen Small tree, 4 m tall with healthy, lefy canopy, 4 m across. Lvs in whorls of 4, deep green with conspicuous venation, to 30+ cm long. Sap white but watery. Fls white with tubular corolla, mildly fragrant. Several individuals along trail. Trauernicht, C. 688 Oahu BISH 2009-01-20
20 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo On various substrates. Preserved_Specimen Invasive weed. Paul, D. Hawaii BISH 1993-03-01
21 Alstonia macrophylla South Hilo District, Waiakea, Keaukaha Military Reservation Growing along jeep road through mixed native/exotic forest. Preserved_Specimen Sparingly branched tree. Trunk ringed. Milky sap. About 6 plants seen, but none with flowers or fruits. Herbst, D.R. 9783 Hawaii BISH 1996-07-05
22 Alstonia macrophylla Nuuanu Judd trail Wet ridge top under shade of Casuarina equisetifolia. Surrounded by; Dicranopteris linearis, Casuarina equisetifolia, Citharexylum caudatum, Acacia koa, Metrosideros polymorpha. Preserved_Specimen 3-4 m in height average. Arthur, K. 31 Oahu BISH 2025-01-16
23 Alstonia macrophylla along trail to second (upper) waterfall, above Lyon Arboretum Psidium cattleianum forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree 5 m tall Daehler, C. 1058 Oahu BISH 2005-02-23
24 Alstonia macrophylla West Maui, Wailuku District, Waihee Vegetation: Degraded Metrosideros/Dicranopteris Lowland Wet Forest Preserved_Specimen Trees to 4 m tall with spreading crown, white latex Oppenheimer, H.L. 102401 Maui BISH 2024-10-28
25 Alstonia macrophylla Wahiawa- Kaukonahua Stream, Waihi Farms. Emerging from Psidium cattleianum canopy, also growing under Albizias. Preserved_Specimen Tall trees with thin branches, leaves at tips. Tallest tree around 40 feet. Flowers not present, fruits hanging pods. OISC 2011112801 Oahu BISH 2011-11-28
26 Alstonia macrophylla E. Maui, Kihei, Kamaole, Lioholo Pl. HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 4/5/2007
27 Alstonia macrophylla Off of Likelike Hwy Growing with Dicranopteris linearis, Schefflera actinophylla, Psidium cattleianum. Preserved_Specimen Leaves whorled in 4s; no sap but growing tip with gummy substance. Souza, D. Oahu BISH 2003-04-11
28 Alstonia macrophylla West Maui, Wailuku District, Kahakuloa, Camp Maluhia Preserved_Specimen Large tree, about 60 feet tall with white flowers, milky sap. Herbst, D.R. 9810 Maui BISH 1997-01-21
29 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 1/5/2011
30 Alstonia macrophylla East Maui, Kihei, Kamaole, Lioholo Pl HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 4/5/2007
31 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, above University of Hawaii at Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 4/2/2016
32 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 1/5/2011
33 Alstonia macrophylla Keaau, Mr. Shipman's place Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. Hawaii BISH 1949-08-02
34 Alstonia macrophylla Living collections of Waimea Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Haleiwa Preserved_Specimen Tree 50' tall. Orr, D. Oahu BISH 1993-03-11
35 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, above University of Hawaii at Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 4/2/2016
36 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo, forested banks of Ponahowai Road, opposite Mormon Church Secondary non-native vegetation Preserved_Specimen tree, up to 14 m tall, trunk gray, immature fruit pendent green maturing light brown, naturalized and occasional along road Wood, K.R. 14629 Hawaii BISH 2011-04-30
37 Alstonia macrophylla Pepeekeo; mauka of Hwy 19 directly across from the Hilo Processing Co. quarry site, near entrance to D. Carlsmith estate In pasture land with exotics such as guava; rose apple. Preserved_Specimen Takiue, T. Hawaii BISH 1991-02-25
38 Alstonia macrophylla Lawai Valley: Lawai-Kai. Koloa District Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen Tree of 20'. Sap milky; leaves dark, glossy green above w/pale whitish-green midvein, below dull pale green w/whitish-green mid- and lateral veins. Immature fruit green, pendent. Flynn, T.W. 3320 Kauai BISH 1989-04-13
39 Alstonia macrophylla Schofield Barracks, South Range. Associated canopy: Falcataria moluccana, Eucalyptus robusta, Schinus terebinthifolius. Understory: Urochloa maxima. Preserved_Specimen Single tree 5-8 m tall. Leaves plumeria-like in shape and size, but not texture. Sterile. Cut wood of 3 inch diam branch not yellow. No sap. No seedlings present but definitely looked naturalized. Beachy, J. 486 Oahu BISH 2018-02-14
40 Alstonia macrophylla Manoa Valley. Puu Pia trail Low canopied, ridgetop forest dominated by Psidium cattleianum with remnant Metrosideros polymorpha and Acacia koa. Preserved_Specimen Small tree, 4 m tall with healthy, lefy canopy, 4 m across. Lvs in whorls of 4, deep green with conspicuous venation, to 30+ cm long. Sap white but watery. Fls white with tubular corolla, mildly fragrant. Several individuals along trail. Trauernicht, C. 688 Oahu BISH 2009-01-20
41 Alstonia macrophylla Hilo On various substrates. Preserved_Specimen Invasive weed. Paul, D. Hawaii BISH 1993-03-01
42 Alstonia macrophylla South Hilo District, Waiakea, Keaukaha Military Reservation Growing along jeep road through mixed native/exotic forest. Preserved_Specimen Sparingly branched tree. Trunk ringed. Milky sap. About 6 plants seen, but none with flowers or fruits. Herbst, D.R. 9783 Hawaii BISH 1996-07-05
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