Milkwood Tree
Scientific name: Alstonia scholaris (Indian Devil Tree)
Family: Apocynaceae
Local uses & fun facts: Bark used in Ayurveda for malaria/fever; wood used for school slates (hence “scholaris”).
Ecological role: Evergreen canopy tree; carbon sink; nectar for bees.
Cultural significance: Considered sacred in parts of India; called “Saptaparni” and linked to rituals.