Question 1

What is Aeginetia indica used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lankan and South Asian Ayurvedic traditions, Aeginetia indica has been used in formulations associated with fever, urinary complaints, and skin conditions. The whole plant is typically collected during flowering and prepared as decoctions or pastes. Any medicinal use should be guided by a qualified Ayurvedic physician.

Question 2

Is Aeginetia indica found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Aeginetia indica occurs across Sri Lanka's wet and intermediate ecological zones, particularly in the southwestern lowlands and at forest margins. It is most commonly found near paddy fields and grassy clearings where its host grasses grow. It tends to flower during and after the monsoon season.

Question 3

Why is Aeginetia indica a parasitic plant?

Accepted Answer

Aeginetia indica is a holoparasite, meaning it produces no chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise. It attaches to the roots of host grasses — most commonly members of the Poaceae family — and draws all water and nutrients from them. This is why it can appear to grow directly out of bare soil with no visible leaves.

Question 4

What does Aeginetia indica look like?

Accepted Answer

The plant produces solitary, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of violet to pale pink, rising on slender, leafless stalks that emerge directly from the ground. It typically reaches 10 to 30 centimetres in height. There are no green leaves, as the plant has no need for photosynthetic tissue.

Question 5

Which family does Aeginetia indica belong to?

Accepted Answer

Aeginetia indica belongs to the family Orobanchaceae, commonly known as the broomrape family. This family is characterised by its many parasitic and hemiparasitic members distributed across tropical and temperate regions worldwide.

Question 6

Can Aeginetia indica be grown in a garden?

Accepted Answer

Cultivating Aeginetia indica in a conventional garden setting is very difficult because it requires a living host grass root system to complete its lifecycle. Without the correct host species present in the soil, the plant cannot germinate or survive. Wild collection from natural habitats remains the primary source for Ayurvedic use.

Question 7

What is the Sinhala name for Aeginetia indica?

Accepted Answer

Aeginetia indica is referred to locally as Matharasa in Sinhala. It is documented in Sri Lanka's traditional Ayurvedic plant catalogues and has been known to practitioners of indigenous medicine for generations.