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The Mystery of the Blackboard Tree: Why Is This Plant Considered Sacred in Asia?
The blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris), also known as the scholar tree, milkwood or devil tree, is an evergreen tropical tree belonging to the Apocynaceae family. It is native to southern China and tropical Asia in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, and is also quite common in Australia. Although poisonous, the tree has been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments and is known in India as Saptaparna, after the country’s second Jain tirthankar, Ajitnatha. ) is regarded as a sacred tree.
Characteristics of Blackboard Tree
The blackboard tree can grow up to 40 meters high. Its trunk is gray when mature, and its young branches have many small holes for ventilation. One of its unique characteristics is that in some places, such as Papua New Guinea, the trunk has a triangular cross-section.
The leaves of this tree are bright green in glossiness while the underside of the leaves are grey. The leaves usually grow in clusters, can be up to 23 cm long and 8 cm wide, and have a distinctive shape.
The flowers of the blackboard tree usually bloom in October, exuding a fragrance similar to that of tuberose, making it one of the most aromatic plants. The seeds of this plant have fuzzy edges compared to other plants and can be up to 2 cm long.
Geographical distribution and use
The blackboard tree is native to the following areas: Guangxi and Yunnan in China, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Indian subcontinent, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. and Papua New Guinea in Oceania and Queensland in Australia. This tree is also the state tree of West Bengal, India.
Toxicity and Chemical Composition
The blackboard tree is a poisonous plant. The study showed that extracts from the plant caused significant damage to major organs in mice, with toxicity affected by different parts of the plant and the season of harvest. The bark collected during the rainy season each year is the least toxic.
The bark contained several alkaloids, including echitamine, which was detected in all samples. The substance is sold commercially as a herbal remedy, however improper use can still cause toxic reactions.
While the wood of the blackboard tree excels in making pencils, due to its good growth rate and ease of cultivation, it is also used for other purposes, such as making coffins in Sri Lanka. In Thailand, the light, light-colored wood near the tree's roots is often used to make household items and nets and floats.
Culture and tradition
It is said that the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree during his first awakening. The blackboard tree also has special significance in some cultures. At India's Visva Bhati University, leaves from the blackboard tree are given to graduate students when they are awarded diplomas. This tradition was proposed by Rabindranath Tagore, the university's founder.
The book "Useful Native Plants of Australia" published in 1889 pointed out that the bark of the blackwood tree was used by the Indian aborigines to treat intestinal problems. It had a significant effect on the late stages of chronic diarrhea and dysentery, and it could also boost the vitality of people weakened by the epidemic. Digestive system.
Although the blackboard tree has traditionally been considered a remedy for a variety of ailments in many parts of Asia, studies have shown that it is not as effective as hoped. According to current research, the plant's anti-malarial effects are weak or even ineffective. It is also ineffective against other pathogens, such as the diarrhea-causing Gillette and amoeba.
These contradictions seem unable to obscure the important place of blackboard tree in culture and traditional health concepts, and many people still insist on using this plant to find solutions. With the development of modern science, should we re-evaluate our views and beliefs about these traditional plants?
