Habitat

Found in bamboo thickets around Tezu, Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Features

• Leafless orchid species with unique adaptations.
• Thrives without sunlight by extracting nutrients from fungi in decomposing leaf litter.
• It obtains nutrients by parasitizing fungi associated with bamboo roots.
• Grows 50 to 110 cm tall.
• Features a pair of linear calli and ridges on its flower lip.

Ecological Niche

Flourishes only in dense, shaded bamboo canopies, emphasizing its limited ecological niche.

Threats

Faces pressures from local land use, including bamboo harvesting and agriculture.

Conservation Importance

Conservationists emphasize that the survival of Gastrodia lohitensis depends on protecting its fragile habitat within Arunachal Pradesh's biodiverse landscape.

Aspect

Details

Common Names

Blackboard tree, scholar tree, milkwood, devil's tree (English).

Family

Apocynaceae (dogbane family).

Historical Reference

Cited in the Charaka and Sushrutha Samhithas.  It is called 'Saptaparna' in India and is the sacred tree of the 2nd Jain tirthankar Ajitnatha.

Distribution

Widespread across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and southern China; thrives in tropical and subtropical climates.

Height

Typically 10–20 meters, sometimes reaching up to 40 meters.

Unique Feature

A unique feature of this tree is that in some places, such as New Guinea, the trunk is three-sided (i.e. it is triangular in cross-section).

Flowers

Small, fragrant, greenish-white flowers that bloom in clusters during late autumn and early winter.

Traditional Uses

Bark, leaves, and other parts used in traditional medicine for treating respiratory conditions, fever, skin disorders, and digestive issues.

Wood

Soft, lightweight wood historically used for making writing slates and blackboards, giving rise to the common name "blackboard tree".

IUCN Status

Least Concern.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.It is native to southern China, tropical Asia (mainly the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) and Australasia, where it is a common ornamental plant. It is called 'Saptaparna' in India and is the sacred tree of the 2nd Jain tirthankar Ajitnatha. A unique feature of this tree is that in some places, such as New Guinea, the trunk is three-sided.

The above-given paragraph is related to which among the following species?

(a) Chattim tree

(b) Black willow

(c) Kapok tree

(d) Eastern red cedar

Answer: a

Explanation:

Alstonia scholaris, commonly called blackboard tree, scholar tree, milkwood or devil's tree in English, is an evergreen tropical tree in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It is native to southern China, tropical Asia (mainly the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia) and Australasia, where it is a common ornamental plant. It is a toxic plant, but is used traditionally for myriad diseases and complaints. It is called 'Saptaparna' in India and is the sacred tree of the 2nd Jain tirthankar Ajitnatha.

Alstonia scholaris is a glabrous tree and grows up to 40 m tall. Its mature bark is grayish and its young branches are copiously marked with lenticels. A unique feature of this tree is that in some places, such as New Guinea, the trunk is three-sided (i.e. it is triangular in cross-section).