Blackboard Tree vs Cider Gum

Alstonia scholaris compared with Eucalyptus gunnii

Key Differences

• Blackboard Tree is Least Concern while Cider Gum is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackboard Tree	Cider Gum
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Gentianales (Gentianales)	Myrtales (Myrtales)
Family	Apocynaceae	Myrtaceae
Genus	Alstonia	Eucalyptus
Species	Alstonia scholaris	Eucalyptus gunnii

Evolutionary Relationship

Blackboard Tree and Cider Gum share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Blackboard Tree

LC — Least Concern

Cider Gum

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackboard Tree	Cider Gum
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blackboard Tree

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests within the Oceanian biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Micronesia, Taiwan, and United States.

Cider Gum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries) and South America (Brazil).

Blackboard Tree

The Blackboard Tree (Alstonia scholaris) is a species in the genus Alstonia. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests within the Oceanian biogeographic realm.

Cider Gum

The cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) is a medium to large eucalyptus tree native to the highlands of Tasmania, Australia, where it grows at elevations up to 1,400 meters in subalpine and montane environments. It is one of the most cold-hardy eucalypts, tolerating severe frosts and occasional snow, which has made it widely popular in cultivation far beyond its native range, particularly in Britain, Ireland, France, and other temperate parts of Europe. In Tasmania, cider gum typically grows along the margins of highland lakes and in subalpine moorland and wet sclerophyll communities. The species reaches 15–35 meters in height, with smooth, pale gray-green to white bark that peels in ribbons. Young foliage is distinctive round and silver-blue, aging to more elongated sickle-shaped adult leaves. The name cider gum derives from the practice of Tasmanian Aboriginal people fermenting the sweet sap that pools in natural wounds to produce a mildly fermented drink. The species is classified as Not Evaluated by the IUCN. Eucalyptus gunnii provides habitat for several Tasmanian endemic species and is considered an important component of highland vegetation communities. In its introduced European range, it is a popular ornamental and windbreak tree. Concerns exist about its naturalization in some European countries where it has established self-sustaining populations.