Question 1

What is Elytraria acaulis used for in ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Elytraria acaulis is recorded in Sri Lanka's catalogue of ayurvedic medicinal plants, where it has been associated with traditional treatments for inflammatory conditions, skin complaints, and fever. Specific preparations vary by regional tradition. Formal clinical research on the plant remains limited, so its uses are best understood as part of a historical ethnobotanical record.

Question 2

Where is Elytraria acaulis found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant is most commonly encountered in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka, growing in open grasslands, forest margins, and disturbed ground at low to mid elevations. Its tolerance of disturbed habitats means it is relatively widespread across the island, though it is not typically cultivated.

Question 3

What family does Elytraria acaulis belong to?

Accepted Answer

Elytraria acaulis belongs to the family Acanthaceae, a large pantropical plant family. The genus Elytraria is distinguished within this family by its characteristic scaled flower spikes. The species was described by Linné the Younger and later assigned to its current classification by botanist Gustav Lindau.

Question 4

What does the name Elytraria acaulis mean?

Accepted Answer

The genus name Elytraria refers to the scale-like bracts that cover the plant's flowering spikes, derived from the Greek word for a sheath or cover. The species epithet acaulis means 'stemless' in Latin, describing the plant's rosette growth form in which the leaves arise directly from the base with no obvious above-ground stem.

Question 5

Is Elytraria acaulis found outside Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the species has a broad distribution across tropical Asia, including India, Bangladesh, and parts of Southeast Asia. It is not endemic to Sri Lanka but is formally included in the island's ayurvedic botanical reference catalogue under the identifier LK94006990.

Question 6

How do I identify Elytraria acaulis in the field?

Accepted Answer

The plant forms a low rosette of leaves close to the ground, with no obvious central stem — hence the name acaulis. Its most distinctive feature is the slender flowering spike densely covered in overlapping scale-like bracts, from which small, pale tubular flowers emerge. It typically grows in dry, open, or disturbed ground.

Question 7

What does Sri Lanka's ayurvedic plant catalogue include?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's ayurvedic plant catalogue, maintained with reference to the Department of Ayurveda, documents species that have recorded uses in the island's indigenous medical traditions, including ayurveda, siddha, and unani practice. It serves researchers, practitioners, and conservationists as a biodiversity and ethnobotanical reference. Inclusion indicates documented traditional use rather than clinical validation.

Elytraria acaulis (L.f.) Lindau