Question 1

What is Pancratium zeylanicum used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Pancratium zeylanicum is used in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine primarily for its bulb, which is believed to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Preparations derived from the bulb are typically applied topically to treat skin conditions and localised inflammation. It appears in traditional compound formulations alongside other medicinal plants.

Question 2

Where does Pancratium zeylanicum grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant is found mainly in coastal habitats, sandy soils, and the margins of wetlands and riverbanks in Sri Lanka's low-country zone. It prefers areas with seasonal rainfall and is associated with the island's coastal belt. Habitat loss has reduced wild populations, making cultivated stocks increasingly important.

Question 3

Is Pancratium zeylanicum endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Pancratium zeylanicum is strongly associated with Sri Lanka and is considered near-endemic to the island. It is closely related to other Pancratium species found across South Asia and the Mediterranean but is specifically catalogued as part of Sri Lanka's native medicinal plant heritage.

Question 4

What alkaloids are found in Pancratium zeylanicum?

Accepted Answer

Like other members of the Amaryllidaceae family, Pancratium zeylanicum is believed to contain alkaloids such as lycorine, which have attracted pharmacological research interest for potential antitumour, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. Research into the precise alkaloid profile of Sri Lankan specimens is ongoing.

Question 5

What does the Pancratium zeylanicum flower look like?

Accepted Answer

The flower consists of six white, spreading tepals with a funnel-shaped central corona fringed with free filaments, giving it a delicate, spider-like appearance. Plants produce umbels of multiple blooms on a single stem. The flowers carry a mild fragrance, especially in the evening.

Question 6

Is Pancratium zeylanicum considered a threatened species?

Accepted Answer

Wild populations face pressure from coastal habitat loss, erosion, and land conversion. The species is considered vulnerable in parts of its range. Botanical gardens and Ayurvedic cultivation programmes in Sri Lanka are working to preserve it both for ecological and medicinal reasons.

Question 7

How is Pancratium zeylanicum different from other spider lily species?

Accepted Answer

While the genus Pancratium contains numerous species across warm regions of the Old World, Pancratium zeylanicum is distinguished by its association with Sri Lanka's coastal lowland habitats and its specific role in the island's indigenous Deshiya Chikitsa medical tradition. Its alkaloid composition may also differ from related Mediterranean or Indian species.