Alstonia spectabilis, commonly known as bitterbark, yellowjacket, milky yellowwood, leatherjacket, jackapple, hard milkwood or hard cheesewood, is a medium-sized species of tree in the dogbane family. It is native to eastern Malesia, Melanesia and northern Australia.
| Alstonia spectabilis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Alstonia |
| Species: | A. spectabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Alstonia spectabilis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description edit
The species grows as a tree to 20 m in height.[1] The white flowers are 3.5–5 mm in diameter. The leaves are up to 36 cm long and 12.5 cm wide. The fruits are 20–40 cm long.[2]
Distribution and habitat edit
The species is distributed from the Philippines, Java, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands, through New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands, to northern Australia, in tropical forest habitats. It is commonly found on lateritic loam and sandstone soils.[1]
Subspecies edit
- Alstonia spectabilis subsp. spectabilis, Malesia to Melanesia and north Queensland
- Alstonia spectabilis subsp. ophioxyloides, Western Australia and Northern Territory
References edit
- ^ a b "Alstonia spectabilis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Alstonia spectabilis R.Br. subsp. spectabilis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. CSIRO. 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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