Tabernaemontana pandacaqui aka Dogbane

Tabernaemontana pandacaqui is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. Its native range runs from southern China to the Pacific. This includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. It also grows in Australia and the western Pacific islands. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome.

Plants range from about 3–46 feet [1–14 metres] tall. The source also lists a height of 33 feet [10 metres]. It does not give a clear garden height range. The trunk can reach about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] across. The plant keeps its leaves through the year and produces milky sap. Its fruits split open to release their seeds. The supplied text gives no further leaf or bark details.

In southern China, it grows in open woods and scrub. There, it occurs at low to middle elevations. In the Philippines, it grows in lowland thickets. Across its range, it grows in woods and bush, often over limestone. These sites span sea level to 5,906 feet [1,800 metres]. In gardens, it grows in full sun or partial shade. It prefers fertile soil that drains well. Plants can bear flowers and fruit throughout the year. The source lists seed as a means of propagation. No cold-hardiness rating or pest guidance accompanies these growing notes.

People gather this plant from the wild for local medicine. Traditional uses draw on its leaves, roots, bark, and sap. People place leaf poultices on the belly for menstrual and childbirth uses. They also add boiled leaf preparations to baths after childbirth. Other childbirth practices use the root and bark. Traditional treatments apply the latex to bruises, wounds, and swellings. Root and bark preparations serve as remedies for gut complaints. The roots also have a reported use against diarrhoea. People rub scraped root on a sore nose. They apply ripe-fruit sap to skin affected by ringworm. These records describe traditional practice, not proven safety or benefit.

The leaves also serve as a bleaching agent. The source records no known food uses for this species. It lists no known hazards, but this does not establish safety. The supplied evidence does not confirm safety for people or pets. It gives no basis for treating any part as edible.