Alstonia scholaris is a medium-to-large evergreen tree with a dense crown and a straight cylindrical bole(trunk). It is a glabrous tree and grows up to 40 m (130 ft) tall. Its mature bark is grayish and its young branches are copiously marked with lenticels. The leaves are 10-20 cm long, 3-4.5 cm wide and arranged in a whorls of up to eight (more often seven) at the node. The leaf stalk (petiole) is short.
You may not recognize the tree, but you will not fail to note the strong fragrance of the flowers, which bloom between October and December. The species is native to India and is now present in China, South- and South-east Asia and Australia.
Saptaparna (Saptaparni /Saptacchada,) in Sanskrit means “seven leaves”, and is based on the fact that four-to-eight simple leaves – more often seven – occur in a circle at each node around the stem.
Its English names “scholar’s tree” and “blackboard tree” refer to its use in making school black boards and wooden slates for children to write on. Its other name “devil tree” or “shaitan ka jhad” is based on the belief in Western India, that the tree is an abode of evil spirits.
During convocation the leaves of Alstonia scholaris (saptaparni) are awarded to graduates and postgraduates of Visva-Bharati University by the chancellor, given to him in turn by the Prime Minister of India. In recent years, supposedly to prevent excessive damage to environment, the vice chancellor of the University accepts one saptaparni leaf from the chancellor on behalf of all the students. This tradition was initiated by the founder of the University, Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore.
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