Alstonia congensis

Alstonia congensis, is a tree within the Apocynaceae family and one of two African species within the Alstonia genus, the other being the Alstonia boonei De Wild. Both have similar morphological characteristics.

Alstonia congensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Alstonia
Species:	A. congensis
Binomial name
Alstonia congensis Engl.
Synonyms[2][3]
Alstonia congensis var. glabrata Hutch. & Dalziel Alstonia gilletii De Wild. Alstonia pedicellata Pierre ex A.Chev.

The root and stem bark contains the alkaloids echitamine and echitamidine.^[4]

Description

The species can grow as high as 30 meters tall, trunk is cylindrical; bark, smooth or scaly, brown - yellow. Leaves, between 4 and 8 together in verticillate arrangement, petiole, 0-0.5 cm long; leaf-blade, obovate to narrowly obovate in outline, glaucous or coriaceous upper surface, duller beneath, acuminate at apex and decurrent into the base.^[5] Flower: sepals, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, pale green.^[6]

Distribution

Occurs in West Tropical Africa and parts of Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo,^[6] grows in high forest and freshwater swamp forest.^[7]

Uses

Leaf and root bark extracts used in the topical treatment of rheumatic pains,^[6] root extracts used in decoction to treat mild malaria fever.^[8]