Polynesian alstonia
Alstonia costata

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A slender erect tree. It grows 15 m tall. The trunk is 15 cm across. The leaves are opposite and glossy green. They are 25 cm long and 15 cm wide. The edges are wavy and the tip is sharp. The flowers are in spreading clusters at the ends of branches. The flowers are white or yellow. The fruit are a pair of slender pods in a V shape They are 15 cm long.

There are 43 Alstonia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Cook Islands, Fiji, Marquesas, Pacific

How it is used for food

The sap is dried for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Sap for chewing

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bulei, Sorua Levu

Synonyms

Alstonia costata Jeann. [Illegitimate]; Alstonia costata var. fragrans (J.W.Moore) M.L. Grant; Alstonia elliptica J.W. Moore; Alstonia fragrans J.W. Moore; Alstonia godeffroyi Reinecke; Alstonia marquisensis M.L. Grant ex Fosberg & Sachet; Alstonia montana Turrill; Alstonia montana var. filiformis Monach.; Alstonia plumosa Labill.; Alstonia plumosa var. communis Boiteau; Alstonia plumosa f. glabra Boiteau; Alstonia reineckeana Lauterb.; Alstonia roeperi Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.; Alstonia setchelliana Christoph.; Alstonia smithii Markgr.; Alstonia villosa Seem. [Illegitimate]; Alstonia vitiensis Seem.; Alstonia vitiensis f. glabra A.C. Sm.; Alstonia vitiensis var. novoebudica Monach.; Alstonia vitiensis var. whitmorei Markgr.; Echites costatus G. Forst.;