Question 1

What is Parsonsia alboflavescens used for in traditional medicine?

Accepted Answer

Parsonsia alboflavescens is catalogued as an ayurvedic medicinal plant in Sri Lanka. Various parts of related Parsonsia species have been used in traditional preparations for their potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is more commonly employed by traditional healers in compound remedies than in commercially available formulations.

Question 2

What family does Parsonsia alboflavescens belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the family Apocynaceae, within the order Gentianales. This large family of flowering plants includes many species with medically active alkaloids and is well represented in Sri Lanka's tropical forests.

Question 3

Where can Parsonsia alboflavescens be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The species is typically found in the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka, growing along forest edges, secondary forests, and scrubland at elevations generally below 1,000 metres. It favours disturbed margins and clearings where light availability supports its climbing habit.

Question 4

Is Parsonsia alboflavescens endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Parsonsia alboflavescens is not strictly endemic to Sri Lanka; the genus Parsonsia is distributed across South and Southeast Asia and into the Pacific. However, the species is documented as part of Sri Lanka's specific ayurvedic plant catalog, indicating its recognised presence on the island.

Question 5

What does the name alboflavescens mean?

Accepted Answer

The epithet alboflavescens is derived from Latin, meaning whitish-yellow or becoming pale yellow. It refers to the colouration of the plant's small tubular flowers, which tend toward white to pale-yellow tones.

Question 6

How is Sri Lanka's ayurvedic plant knowledge preserved?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda maintains formal records of the island's medicinal flora, while institutions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya preserve living specimens. Academic ethnobotanical research is also increasingly documenting traditional knowledge of species like Parsonsia alboflavescens.

Question 7

Can tourists see medicinal plants like Parsonsia alboflavescens in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, spice garden tours, ayurvedic wellness centres, and guided forest walks offer visitors direct encounters with Sri Lanka's medicinal flora. Rainforest reserves and botanical gardens are particularly good places to observe climbing plants and learn about their traditional uses from knowledgeable guides.