Alstonia Scholaris, Ditabark - 0.5 kg Seeds

Alstonia scholaris (Alstonia scholaris), known as saptaparni, ditabark, blackboard tree or devil's tree, is a fast-growing evergreen tree reaching 15-25 m, with whorls of glossy leaves arranged in distinctive tiers and bark that exudes a bitter milky latex. In autumn it bears clusters of intensely fragrant greenish-white flowers, followed by long, thread-like paired pods bearing tufted seeds. It is native to the moist forests of the sub-Himalayan tract, eastern and peninsular India and the Western Ghats.

The pale, soft, even-grained wood was traditionally used for blackboards, school slates, pencils and packing cases, giving it the name scholaris. It is a popular avenue and shade tree for its dense tiered canopy and is much used in Ayurveda, where the bitter bark (dita) is a classic remedy for fevers and digestive complaints. The heavily scented flowers make it a notable feature of city streets in the cooler months.

• Family: Apocynaceae
• Native region: Indian subcontinent and tropical Asia
• Mature height: 15-25 m
• Growth rate: Fast

Sowing the seed: the small, light, winged seeds need no scarification and are best surface-sown, as they require light to germinate. Press them onto the surface of a moist, well-drained nursery mix without covering, and keep them shaded and humid; germination is fairly quick, usually within 14-21 days. Prick out and pot on the delicate seedlings once they have a few leaves, and transplant to the field at the start of the rains.