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Alstonia pneumatophora is named after its tendency to produce pneumatophore roots (knee type) in the wet conditions of its preferred habitat of Fresh Water Swamp Forest. We usually find this tree next to swampy streams and not in the swamp proper. This species will also grow quite happily in dry conditions as evidenced by an excellent specimen residing in the Singapore Botanic Gardens as well as a one individual growing on a hillside at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Unfortunately habitat loss resulting from reservoir construction over the past century has left us with only a handful of examples of this tree growing in natural conditions and it is therefore classified as Critically Endangered.
It is possible to confuse A pneumatophora with its swamp dwelling ally A. spatulata, because both of these species have "spathulate" or spoon like leaves. Typically A. pneumatophora is not petiolated and the leaves are strongly winged whereas generally A spatulata is not. The confusion is possible however in leaf variation for some A. pneumatophora are slightly petiolated and some A.spatulata are winged, so in the field it is also necessary to observe other vegetative characteristics such as the height of the buttresses and formation of pneumatophoric roots.
When flowering, this species will drop many leaves to make space for the flowers which grow in two clumps of tightly packed flowers for each flowering stem (see photos below). Some of the trees in Singapore were observed to flower in late October - early November 2010 and subsequently fruiting occurred in early December 2010.
Due to the rarity of this species my photos are categorized by the individual trees that I have visited, and I will add to this gallery as and when the opportunity to visit (or find) more individuals of this species presents itself. | 
