45 
No. 8. 
Alstonia constricta, F.v.M. 
A “Bitter Bark." 
("Natural Order APOCYNEvE.) 
Botanical description. —Genus, Alstonia , R.Br. 
Calyx. —Without any or with minute glands. 
Corolla-tube. —Cylindrical, more or less swollen round the anthers, the lobes spreading, contorted 
in the bud, the throat without scales. 
Ovary. —Of two distinct carpels united by the style. 
Stigma. —Ovoid or conical. 
Ovules. —Numerous; in about four rows in each carpel. 
Fruit. —Of two long linear follicles. 
Seeds. —Oblong, compressed, peltately attached, bordered with hairs of which those of each end 
are usually very long ; albumen scanty. 
Trees or tall shrubs with a milky juice. 
Leaves. —In whorls of three or more, or, in a few species, opposite. 
Flowers. —In terminal corymbose cymes, usually one in the axil of each leaf of the terminal whorl. 
Bracts. —Small. 
Botanical description. —Species, A. stricta, F.v.M., Fragm. i, 57. 
A. small shrub or tree attaining sometimes 40 feet, quite glabrous. 
Leaves. —Opposite, on long petioles, mostly oblong-lanceolate, but varying from almost ovate to 
narrow-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, the primary veins distant, oblique, and not very 
prominent, 3 to 5 inches long. 
Flowers. —Numerous, in corymbose cymes, either solitary and terminal or two together in the 
forks of the branches and shorter than the leaves. 
Calyx-segments. —Ovate, almost acute, about ^ line long, with a few minute and irregular glands 
at the base inside. 
Corolla-tube. —About 1 line long, glabrous, or slightly bearded inside at the base, the right-hand 
edges overlapping in the bud. 
Follicles. —From 3 to 4 inches to twice that length.* 
Seeds. —Linear, flat or concave, pubescent, 4 to 6 lines long, ciliate with long hairs at the upper 
end and shorter ones at the lower end. (B.F1., iv. 314.) 
Botanical Name. — Alstonia, in honor of Dr. Charles Alston, Professor of 
Medicine and Botany in the University of Edinburgh from 1740 to 1701; con¬ 
stricta, Latin, the top of the corolla-tube being constricted. 
* Exceptionally they are over a foot long. 
