Question 1

What is Dendrophthoe falcata used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Dendrophthoe falcata is used in traditional Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine for conditions including respiratory complaints, wound healing, and inflammation. Different parts of the plant — leaves, stems, flowers, and the wood formed at the attachment point to the host tree — are used in different formulations. Traditional use should always be supervised by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Question 2

Where can Dendrophthoe falcata be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant grows across much of Sri Lanka's lowland and intermediate zones, parasitising a wide range of host trees including mango, coconut, and various timber species. It is most commonly seen in dry and intermediate zone forests, along roadsides, and in orchards. It has also been recorded in and around moist lowland forest edges in the wet zone.

Question 3

What does Dendrophthoe falcata look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a woody, semi-parasitic shrub with leathery, sickle-shaped leaves and clusters of tubular orange-red to yellow flowers. The plant attaches to host tree branches via haustoria — specialised root-like structures — and has no contact with the soil. Birds, particularly sunbirds, are its primary pollinators and seed dispersers.

Question 4

Is Dendrophthoe falcata the same as European mistletoe?

Accepted Answer

They belong to the same broader grouping of parasitic plants but are different species. European mistletoe is Viscum album, whereas Dendrophthoe falcata belongs to the family Loranthaceae and is native to tropical South and Southeast Asia. Both are hemiparasites, but their phytochemistry, traditional uses, and ecological roles differ significantly.

Question 5

Does the host tree affect the medicinal properties of Dendrophthoe falcata?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is one of the plant's most distinctive features. Because it draws secondary metabolites from its host alongside water, the plant's chemical profile changes depending on which tree it parasitises. Traditional Ayurvedic texts acknowledge this effect, and modern pharmacological studies have found measurable differences in phytochemical content across host-tree variants.

Question 6

Is there scientific evidence for Dendrophthoe falcata's health benefits?

Accepted Answer

Laboratory studies have identified compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-tumour activity in extracts of the plant. However, rigorous human clinical trials are limited, and the plant is not approved as a standalone treatment in conventional medicine. Its role is better established within the formal Ayurvedic system recognised by Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda.

Question 7

How is Dendrophthoe falcata harvested sustainably?

Accepted Answer

Sustainable harvesting involves selective collection that does not kill the host tree or strip the parasitic plant entirely from a given location. Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda provides guidance on ethical collection practices for medicinal plants. Travellers interested in authentic plant-use traditions are encouraged to visit licensed Ayurvedic practitioners or government-recognised herb gardens rather than collecting plants independently.