Question 1

What is Phoenicanthus coriacea?

Accepted Answer

Phoenicanthus coriacea is a flowering plant in the family Annonaceae, native to Sri Lanka. The genus Phoenicanthus is considered endemic or near-endemic to the island, making it a botanically distinctive part of Sri Lanka's flora. It is catalogued among the country's Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

Question 2

What family does Phoenicanthus coriacea belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to Annonaceae, a pantropical plant family that includes many species with traditional medicinal and culinary uses across South and Southeast Asia. Within this family, the genus Phoenicanthus is notably associated with Sri Lanka's endemic plant heritage.

Question 3

Is Phoenicanthus coriacea used in traditional medicine in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is listed in Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic plant catalogue, indicating recognised traditional use by local practitioners. As with many Ayurvedic plants, it is typically used in compound formulations rather than in isolation, and ongoing ethnobotanical research continues to document its properties.

Question 4

Where can Phoenicanthus coriacea be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant is associated with Sri Lanka's wet-zone forests, particularly lowland and mid-elevation areas. Protected areas such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shelter a significant proportion of the island's endemic flora, including members of the Annonaceae family.

Question 5

How many medicinal plants are recognised in Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic tradition?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia formally recognises hundreds of native plant species. The island's high rate of plant endemism — around a quarter of its roughly 3,000 flowering plant species are found nowhere else — means that many of these plants are uniquely Sri Lankan contributions to traditional medicine.

Question 6

Is Phoenicanthus coriacea an endangered plant?

Accepted Answer

Endemic species with narrow ranges, such as those in the genus Phoenicanthus, are generally considered at risk due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion. For the most current conservation status, the IUCN Red List is the authoritative reference. Protecting wet-zone forest habitats remains essential for safeguarding such species.

Question 7

Where can I learn more about Sri Lanka's medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya maintain living collections of many medicinal and endemic species. The Department of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka also documents the country's traditional plant knowledge. For travellers, visits to botanical gardens and protected forests offer a direct way to encounter Sri Lanka's extraordinary plant diversity.