Question 1

What is Corypha umbraculifera?

Accepted Answer

Corypha umbraculifera is the talipot palm, a large fan-leafed palm native to Sri Lanka and parts of South and Southeast Asia. It is notable for flowering only once in its lifetime — after several decades of growth — before dying after seed set. The species is valued for its cultural, historical, and ayurvedic significance.

Question 2

How is the talipot palm used in ayurvedic medicine?

Accepted Answer

Various parts of the talipot palm, including the seeds, roots, and sap, are recorded in traditional ayurvedic and folk-medicine literature for uses ranging from managing fever to supporting digestion. These traditional applications are documented in ethnobotanical surveys but should not replace consultation with a qualified ayurvedic practitioner.

Question 3

Where can I see Corypha umbraculifera in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya near Kandy is the most accessible location to see mature labelled specimens of the talipot palm. Older trees also grow in the grounds of certain Buddhist temples in the Kandy and Southern provinces.

Question 4

Why does the talipot palm flower only once?

Accepted Answer

The talipot palm is monocarpic, meaning it invests all its reproductive energy into a single massive flowering event rather than flowering repeatedly each year. After producing what can be millions of flowers and seeds, the tree exhausts its resources and dies. This cycle typically takes between 40 and 80 years.

Question 5

What were talipot palm leaves used for historically?

Accepted Answer

Dried and prepared talipot leaves were the standard writing material across Sri Lanka and southern India for many centuries. Buddhist scriptures, medical texts, and royal records were inscribed on these ola leaves using a metal stylus. Many such manuscripts have survived for hundreds of years and are preserved in temple libraries and national museums.

Question 6

Is the talipot palm endangered?

Accepted Answer

Corypha umbraculifera is considered vulnerable in parts of its natural range, primarily because lowland wet-zone forest habitat has been reduced and the species regenerates slowly due to its monocarpic life cycle. Conservation in Sri Lanka depends heavily on specimens maintained in botanical gardens and temple grounds.

Question 7

How big do talipot palm leaves grow?

Accepted Answer

The fan-shaped leaves of the talipot palm can reach up to five metres in diameter, making them among the largest undivided leaves of any plant in the world. Each leaf is borne on a long stout petiole and provides substantial shade beneath the crown of a mature tree.