Question 1

What is Isachne globosa used for in ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Isachne globosa is catalogued among Sri Lanka's ayurvedic medicinal plants. It is typically used in compound herbal preparations rather than as a solo remedy, with traditional applications linked to cooling, anti-inflammatory, and urinary health properties. Research into its specific active compounds is ongoing.

Question 2

Where does Isachne globosa grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant favours damp, open ground in the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. It is commonly found along paddy field margins, stream banks, and freshwater marsh edges in the lowland regions of the island, particularly in the south and west.

Question 3

What does Isachne globosa look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a small, creeping grass, typically 20–60 cm tall, with slender branching stems and narrow lance-shaped leaves. Its most identifiable feature is the open panicle of small, rounded (globose) spikelets that give the species its botanical name.

Question 4

Is Isachne globosa found outside Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The species has a broad distribution across tropical and subtropical Asia, including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of East Asia and the Pacific. In Sri Lanka it appears in the country's official catalogue of ayurvedic medicinal plants.

Question 5

Which family does Isachne globosa belong to?

Accepted Answer

Isachne globosa belongs to the family Poaceae, commonly known as the grass family. Within Poaceae it sits in the subfamily Panicoideae. Despite being a grass rather than a conventional herb, it is documented in Sri Lanka's indigenous medical tradition.

Question 6

How does Sri Lanka catalogue its ayurvedic medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Ayurveda under Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health maintains official registers of medicinal plants used in indigenous medicine systems. Academic institutions and botanical gardens, including the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, also document and preserve specimens of such plants.

Question 7

Can tourists learn about medicinal plants like Isachne globosa in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Botanical gardens, ayurvedic wellness centres, and village eco-tourism experiences across Sri Lanka offer herbal garden walks and educational sessions on traditional plant use. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya and various ayurvedic retreats near Kandy and Galle are good starting points.