Botanical name: Alstonia scholaris
Common names: Blackboard Tree, Indian Devil Tree, Sapthaparni, Ditabark, Milkwood Pine, White Cheesewood
Family: Apocynaceae
Origin: Southeastern Asia
This fascinating rare plant with white, strongly perfumed flowers is valued as a fast growing, impressive ornamental shade tree.
Popularly known as Devil Tree, as plant is believed to the devil's abode - probably due to the intoxicating fragrance emitted by flowering trees, especially at night.
The tree is of great cultural significance in the intellectual circle, as traditionally its leaves were awarded to scholars and teachers during convocation ceremonies by the Visva Bharati University (can't think of a better name than Alstonia scholaris!). This tradition was started by Rabindranath Tagore.
