The Blackboard Tree aka the Scholar Tree

The 'Scholar' Tree Musings

An evening walk through the streets of Vaishali in Ghaziabad with its share of dust and smog had a fragrance embedded steeply in its air. As I kept walking, I realised the familiar site of this beautiful looking tree laden with clusters of tiny whitish green flowers. It was October, the season when this tree drapes itself with this magnificent garment of pure fragrance that draws you from afar towards it. 

Numerous clicks and a thorough search on the internet led me to discover the name of this pretty vision on one of the websites from India that is a popular hub for nature lovers from India. The surprising element was this 'fragrant damsel that had sprinkled her perfume 0n our streets' was a popular tree whose bark has been used for ages to make the tiny slates or 'Blackboards' which were made for children to write with chalks on. And the popular name by which it was known befitted the purpose it was used for, namely 'Scholar Tree'. 

Sadly the poor tree has an equally opposite rapport surrounding it. It is also called the Devil's tree or in India in Hindi it is called 'Shaitan ka Jhad'. It is said in the tribal pockets of the western Ghats of India, people are scared to pass by this tree as it is considered to be the domain of the evil one. A little research, into its devilish character leads you to a scientific discovery that the milky sap of this tree is poisonous and hence this tree is ignored by the cattle. That's a boon for the tree though! 

The Scholar Tree is also called Dita bark, Devil tree, Blackboard tree, etc. The botanical term used for this beauty is Alstonia Scholaris of the Family- Apocynaceae. The botanical term as compiled by botanists is based on the name of a well known botanist, Prof C, Alston of Edinburgh. This evergreen tree is beautiful in shape and a sight to behold, even when it is not flowering. It has a tall bark and the branches are whorled giving the tree a circular structure and an evenly shape. The tree is symmetrically beautifully, as the leaves and the flowers are whorled in structure around the branches.

The flowers have a structure that remind you of the Indian Parijat or the night flowering Jasmine. Albeit, this blooms in clusters and is far too tiny. However, both bloom in October and wrap their surroundings with their fragrance.

The leaves have a leathery texture. the tree blossoms in the month of October and and then bears fruits. The fruits are not edible though. 

However, the soft bark is known for its use in making boxes for packing and the tiny little 'slates' for kids. In many places around the world, it is used to make pencils and coffins too. This tree has a history of being useful for medicinal purposes to help bowel complaints and finds its mention in the Treasury of Botany in one among its oldest version. 

Nature is a beautiful teacher. The Scholar tree or the Blackboard tree despite is uses has been grossly misunderstood by many tribals perhaps for no fault of their own as the milky sap is poisonous and may have caused harm to someone who unknowingly may have consumed it. I mused upon life. At some point, I felt like I identified with it. We are filled with such glory and beauty. A splendour that is gifted by the divine and a fragrance that envelops our being when we reach out in love. But as all good things, we humans are invariably weak, with elements we often wish to conquer. With battles we fight within ourselves. A toxic element that we wish to overcome. And more often that not, these become the limelight of the day for passers by.

But the tree smiled and the flowers winked at me generously, with gentle whisperings, "There will always be comments from people who do not know the real you, the inner core- but that should not stop one from doing the very best. Stand strong, hold your head high. You are beautiful, continue to do what you do best and be fragrant, providing cheer and beauty. The inner me matters. They will discover your worth when times ripe!"

I walked past...'True'!

Picture Credit: Sr Michelle Mathias fsp