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Alstonia constricta
Alstonia constricta foliage and flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Tribe:	Plumeriae
Subtribe:	Alstoniinae
Genus:	Alstonia
Species:	A. constricta
Binomial name
Alstonia constricta

Alstonia constricta, commonly known as Quinine Bush or Bitterbark, is an endemic Australian endemic shrub or small tree of the family Apocynaceae.

Growth

A. constricta has an erect growth form. Growing to 12 m in height. The species is capable of producing adventitious shoots or ‘suckers’ from the root system and in this manner often forms thickets. Leaves are pubescent, narrow and lanceolate, from 5-20 cm in length. Flowers are white to cream, 2- 4 cm across. The bark has a corky textured and develops a grooved appearance in older plants. The sap of A. constricta is a white latex, and contains several alkaloids, several of which have medicinal potential, including reserpine.

Distribution and habitat

Alstonia constricta bark.

A constricta is the only subtropical member of the genus, and occurs in Eastern Australia from the Tropic of Capricorn southward to northern New South Wales. The species occurs in Eucalypt and Acacia woodlands, vine scrubs and gallery forests from humid coastal regions through to the semi-arid and arid inland.

External links

• Alstonia Bark

From Wikispecies

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Euasterids I
Ordo: Gentianales
Familia: Apocynaceae
Subfamilia: Rauvolfioideae
Tribus: Alstonieae
Genus: Alstonia

Species: Alstonia constricta

Name

Alstonia constricta F.Muell.

References

• Fragm. 1:57. 1858
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. [1]