Alstonia scholaris (Apocynaceae, commonly called Blackboard tree, Indian devil tree, Ditabark, Milkwood pine, White cheesewood and Pulai (Bengali:ছাতিম) (Urdu: پھلاہی); syn.
N-Formylscholarine is an indole alkaloid isolated from the fruit pods of Alstonia scholaris.
The commonly held belief, however, is that the name is a fusion of two Malayalam words, Pala, a tree (Alstonia scholaris) that is found abundantly in Palakkad, and Kadu, which means forest.
Alstonia scholaris | Alstonia spathulata | Alstonia | Alstonia constricta |
Some endemic plant species are protected in this national park, such as Syzygium species, Alstonia scholaris, Ficus species, Canarium oleosum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Myristica littoralis, Toona sureni, Sterculia foetida, Schleichera oleosa, and Palaquium obovatum.
There are about 118 plant species protected in this national park including Toona sureni, Sterculia foetida, Schleichera oleosa, Alstonia scholaris (Ditabark), Tamarind, Candlenut, Syzygium species, Casuarina species, and Lantana camara (Spanish Flag).
Among the plants that grow in this park are Avicennia, Dryobalanops and Pandanus species, Alstonia scholaris, Terminalia catappa, Shorea selanica, Octomeles sumatrana, Bruguiera sexangula, Melaleuca leucadendra, Pometia pinnata, Rhizophora acuminata and various species of orchid.
In the lowland forest, large trees such as the Dao (Dracontomelon dao), Ipil (Intsia bijuga), Dita (Alstonia scholaris), Amugis (Koordersiodendrum pinnatum), and Apitong (Dipterocarpus gracilis) are common.