Question 1

What is Acrotrema uniflorum?

Accepted Answer

Acrotrema uniflorum is a small perennial herb native to Sri Lanka, belonging to the plant family Dilleniaceae. It grows in the shaded understorey of wet zone forests and is noted for producing a single small flower per stem. The species is listed in Sri Lanka's catalogue of Ayurvedic medicinal plants.

Question 2

Where is Acrotrema uniflorum found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant grows primarily in Sri Lanka's wet zone forests, favouring shaded, humid environments such as stream banks and forest margins with dense canopy. Lowland rainforest habitats in the south-west of the island, including areas near Sinharaja, represent typical locations for this and related species.

Question 3

What are the medicinal uses of Acrotrema uniflorum?

Accepted Answer

Acrotrema uniflorum is documented as part of Sri Lanka's traditional Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. Related Acrotrema species have been associated in ethnobotanical records with remedies for inflammatory conditions and general debility. Scientific research into the specific properties of A. uniflorum is limited, and claims about its efficacy remain under ongoing study.

Question 4

Is Acrotrema uniflorum endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The genus Acrotrema is largely distributed across South and South-East Asia, but several species within it, including Acrotrema uniflorum, have a distribution centred on or restricted to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's isolation and ecological diversity have made it a centre of speciation for many such understorey plants.

Question 5

What family does Acrotrema uniflorum belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the Dilleniaceae family, an order of flowering plants found across tropical and subtropical regions. Within Sri Lanka, Dilleniaceae members range from large trees to small ground-level herbs, with Acrotrema being one of the most habitat-specialised genera.

Question 6

How is Acrotrema uniflorum used in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic tradition, rare forest herbs are valued for their scarcity and the specific conditions under which they grow. Various parts of Acrotrema species have historically been incorporated into herbal preparations, though precise formulations and clinical evidence specific to A. uniflorum are not widely published in modern literature.

Question 7

Is Acrotrema uniflorum a protected plant in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's conservation legislation covers threatened and endemic species within its protected area network. Rare understorey herbs that depend on intact wet zone forest habitats benefit indirectly from forest reserve protections, though individual species-level legal status can vary. Habitat conservation is generally considered the most critical factor for their survival.