About Alstonia muelleriana Domin
Alstonia muelleriana is an evergreen tree that reaches 15 to 25 meters (49 to 82 feet) in height. Its leaves are simple, grow in whorls of three or four, and measure up to 19 centimeters long by 7 centimeters wide (7.5 by 2.8 inches). Each leaf is attached to twigs by a petiole that is about 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) long. Leaves are softly hairy on both sides, with less hair on the upper surface, and have up to 18 lateral veins on each side of the midrib. Its inflorescences are terminal or axillary panicles that grow up to 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) long. The small flowers are around 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) in diameter, and are 5-merous, with five green sepals and five white to cream-colored petals. The fruit of this species is a green dehiscent follicle, measuring around 40 centimeters (16 inches) or more in length and 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) in diameter. When the fruit reaches maturity, it turns brown, splits longitudinally, and releases numerous small hairy seeds that are dispersed by wind. This species, commonly known as hard milkwood, has a restricted range covering a small area of northeastern Queensland, Australia, from near Rossville to Paluma Range National Park north of Townsville, as well as the southwestern parts of Papua New Guinea. It grows in rainforests, can also be found in drier forests, and is common in regrowth and disturbed areas.
