Question 1

What is Broussonetia zeylanica?

Accepted Answer

Broussonetia zeylanica is a tree or shrub in the Moraceae family, native to Sri Lanka. It is catalogued in the Sri Lankan Department of Ayurveda's official list of medicinal plants and is related to the Paper Mulberry. The species name 'zeylanica' indicates its Sri Lankan origin as recognised by early European botanists.

Question 2

What is Broussonetia zeylanica used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

The plant is included in the Ayurvedic medicinal plant catalogue of Sri Lanka, where it has been used by traditional practitioners as part of the island's indigenous healing traditions. Specific therapeutic applications documented in classical or folk texts relate to the plant's bark and other parts, though detailed phytochemical studies specific to this species remain limited in published literature.

Question 3

Is Broussonetia zeylanica endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Broussonetia zeylanica is considered native to Sri Lanka and is closely associated with the island's wet and intermediate zone forests. Sri Lanka is a global biodiversity hotspot with a high rate of plant endemism, making it home to many species found nowhere else.

Question 4

What family does Broussonetia zeylanica belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the family Moraceae, which includes the Paper Mulberry, breadfruit, and jackfruit. Within this family, the genus Broussonetia is distributed across Asia and the Pacific, with several species historically used for fibre and medicine.

Question 5

Where can Broussonetia zeylanica be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It typically grows in humid lowland and mid-elevation forests, forest margins, and secondary woodland in the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. It is not commonly found at high elevations but may occur at transitional forest zones.

Question 6

Is Broussonetia zeylanica a threatened species?

Accepted Answer

While it is not among the most prominently listed threatened plants in Sri Lanka, the wet lowland forest habitat it occupies has faced significant pressure from deforestation. Conservation efforts by the Department of Ayurveda and botanical institutions help protect many native medicinal plants including this species.

Question 7

How is the Sri Lankan Ayurvedic plant catalogue organised?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka maintains an official catalogue of medicinal plants used in traditional practice. Each plant is assigned a reference code — for Broussonetia zeylanica this is LK94006158 — and documented with botanical and traditional use information. The catalogue draws on both classical Ayurvedic texts and locally accumulated knowledge.