Brief
Alstonia angustiloba, known as Common Pulai. Our Pulai Trail Community Forest was created based on the name of this tree.
Botanical Description
Alstonia angustiloba grows as a large tree up to 12 stories high, with a trunk diameter of up to 60 cm. The bark is greyish or brownish. In terms of growth habitat, this tree is in the mid-canopy tree category, common in mixed dipterocarp forest on low hills and undulating land, and in freshwater swamp forest, at elevations up to 200 m.
Historical / Cultural Significance
In many Southeast Asian cultures, particularly among indigenous communities, the Pulai tree is considered sacred. Often planted near temples or cemeteries, it symbolizes protection and serves as a spiritual boundary. In Malaysia, the tree’s significance is reflected in place names such as Simpang Pulai (Perak), Pulai (Johor), and Pulai Chondong (Kelantan).
The softwood of the Pulai tree is ideal for making rafts due to its buoyancy. It is also used for house flooring, matchsticks, and lightweight furniture. In traditional medicine, the latex from the tree’s bark can be used to treat abscesses and boils.
Folklore / Etymology
The tree is sometimes associated with supernatural folklore. In some Malay traditions, the tree is thought to house spirits, and its presence in forests or near villages evokes a sense of reverence. In Sarawak, Pulai carries the meaning ‘going home’ (pulang) in Iban.
Alstonia: named after Charles Alston, a botany professor at Edinburgh University from 1716 to 1760.
Angustiloba (Latin): having narrow lobes, referring to the narrow calyx lobes of the flower.