Question 1

What is Cullenia ceylanica?

Accepted Answer

Cullenia ceylanica is a large canopy tree endemic to Sri Lanka, belonging to the family Malvaceae. It is documented in Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic medicinal plant catalogue and is found primarily in the wet lowland and submontane forests of the island's southwestern region.

Question 2

Is Cullenia ceylanica found only in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Cullenia ceylanica is strictly endemic to Sri Lanka and does not occur naturally anywhere else in the world. Its range is concentrated in the wet-zone forests of the southwestern part of the island, with Sinharaja Forest Reserve being one of the most important remaining habitats.

Question 3

What are the medicinal uses of Cullenia ceylanica?

Accepted Answer

The tree is catalogued within Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic medicinal plant system, where traditional practitioners have documented uses for its various parts. However, large-scale clinical research on the species remains limited, and its applications are primarily recorded in ethnobotanical and indigenous medicine contexts.

Question 4

What family does Cullenia ceylanica belong to?

Accepted Answer

Cullenia ceylanica belongs to the family Malvaceae, the same broad family that includes the durian. It was formerly classified within Bombacaceae before that family was folded into the expanded Malvaceae. The genus Cullenia is closely related to the durian genus Durio.

Question 5

Where can I see Cullenia ceylanica in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The best opportunity to encounter Cullenia ceylanica in its natural habitat is in the protected wet-zone forests of southwestern Sri Lanka, particularly Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Guided nature walks led by trained local naturalists offer the highest chance of spotting large endemic trees in their forest context.

Question 6

Is Cullenia ceylanica endangered?

Accepted Answer

As a strictly endemic species confined to Sri Lanka's wet-zone forests — a habitat under ongoing pressure from land-use change — Cullenia ceylanica faces conservation concerns. The species is considered ecologically vulnerable due to its restricted range and dependence on intact forest cover.

Question 7

How is Cullenia ceylanica different from the durian fruit?

Accepted Answer

While Cullenia ceylanica is a botanical relative of the durian (both belong to Malvaceae), it is a distinct species adapted to Sri Lanka's forest conditions. Its fruit has a spiny capsule with arils around the seeds, structurally similar to durian, but it is not commercially cultivated as a food crop in the way durian is across Southeast Asia.