Fauna
Plant

White Cheesewood

Alstonia scholaris

Also known as Blackboard Tree, Scholar Tree, Devil's Tree, Milkwood

White cheesewood is a tall evergreen canopy tree instantly recognizable by its tiered, pagoda-like branching architecture and glossy, leathery leaves arranged in radiating whorls of four to eight. During late autumn, dense clusters of greenish-white blossoms open at night, filling the surrounding air with an intense, heady perfume that draws nocturnal moths and fruit bats. Its common name stems from the lightweight, pale wood historically carved into slates and chalkboards for schoolrooms across South and Southeast Asia.

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White Cheesewood reference1 / 7
(c) Ong Jyh Seng, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Ong Jyh Seng · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Defoliating caterpillars
  • Stem-boring beetles
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, local timber overharvesting, and severe cyclone damage
HabitatsTropical rainforests, monsoon forests, disturbed woodlands, and urban parks
Life span60–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderGentianales
  2. FamilyApocynaceae
  3. GenusAlstonia
  4. SpeciesAlstonia scholaris
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Latex contains toxic alkaloids and irritates skin; avoid broken stems and never ingest plant parts.
Why it is dangerous
Produces toxic indole alkaloids like echitamine throughout its tissue, causing severe stomach pain, vomiting, and cardiac distress if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for whorls of four to eight blunt-tipped leaves and copious milky sap that oozes readily when leaves or twigs break.
What to do
Observe the tree without breaking stems or foliage, and wash skin immediately if contact with sap occurs.
Responsible observation
  • Flowering Season: Look for dense clusters of fragrant blossoms during late autumn evenings.
  • Leaf Whorls: Count the leaves radiating from a single node to confirm its signature circular pattern.
  • Latex Caution: Avoid snapping branches or picking leaves, as the milky sap can inflame skin and eyes.
Related species
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