Definition

Noun: 1. A specific evergreen tree species: A tropical evergreen tree (Alstonia scholaris) native to regions including eastern Asia and the Philippines. It is characterized by large, leathery leaves, clusters of small greenish-white flowers, and bark that has been used in traditional medicine.

Examples

• The devil tree is easily identified by its whorled arrangement of leaves.
• In traditional medicine, the bark of the devil tree was used to treat certain ailments.
• The botanical name for the devil tree is .

Advanced Usage

• The name "devil tree" is a common name; its more formal and widely recognized botanical name is or "dita bark tree."
• In some cultural contexts, the tree is associated with folklore or superstition, which is the likely origin of its common name "devil tree."

Variants and Related Words

• Dita bark tree: Another common name for the same species (), often referring to the medicinal use of its bark.
• Blackboard tree: A common name derived from its use in making school slates in some regions.
• Scholar's tree: A name referencing its historical use for making writing tablets.

Synonyms

• Dita tree
• Alstonia (referring to the genus)

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "devil tree" almost exclusively refers to the specific botanical species . It is not a general term for any ominous-looking tree. Using it to describe a different tree would be incorrect and potentially confusing.

Noun

1. evergreen tree of eastern Asia and Philippines having large leathery leaves and small green-white flowers in compact cymes; bark formerly used medicinally