Question 1

What is Dipteracanthus prostratus used for?

Accepted Answer

In the Sri Lankan ayurvedic tradition, Dipteracanthus prostratus is used medicinally, with the whole plant cited in classical texts for its cooling and anti-inflammatory properties. It has traditionally been applied in preparations addressing skin conditions and urinary complaints. Specific formulations vary depending on regional and practitioner knowledge.

Question 2

What family does Dipteracanthus prostratus belong to?

Accepted Answer

Dipteracanthus prostratus belongs to the Acanthaceae family, a large group of flowering plants distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Several related genera in this family have medicinal or ornamental significance, including Ruellia, with which Dipteracanthus is sometimes synonymised in older botanical literature.

Question 3

Where is Dipteracanthus prostratus found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant is common in the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka, growing in moist, shaded environments such as forest margins, roadsides, and stream banks. It occurs from sea level up to around 1,000 metres elevation and is a familiar plant in rural village settings and secondary forest edges.

Question 4

Is Dipteracanthus prostratus an endemic plant in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Dipteracanthus prostratus is not endemic to Sri Lanka — it is distributed across tropical Asia including South and Southeast Asia. However, it is well established on the island and is officially catalogued as part of Sri Lanka's ayurvedic medicinal plant heritage.

Question 5

What does Dipteracanthus prostratus look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a small, low-growing herb with soft, hairy stems and oval to elliptic leaves. Its flowers are tubular and typically violet-purple in colour, appearing in the leaf axils. The plant rarely rises more than a few centimetres above the ground, giving it a prostrate or creeping habit.

Question 6

How is Dipteracanthus prostratus catalogued in Sri Lanka's ayurvedic system?

Accepted Answer

It is listed in the official catalogue of ayurvedic medicinal plants maintained by Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda. Its catalogue reference in the Lakpura documentation is LK94006991. The Department's catalogue covers hundreds of native and naturalised plant species used in classical and folk medicine across the island.

Question 7

Are there scientific studies on Dipteracanthus prostratus?

Accepted Answer

Phytochemical research on closely related Ruellia and Dipteracanthus species has identified compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and glycosides that may account for traditional therapeutic uses. The body of peer-reviewed research on this specific species remains limited compared with more globally commercialised medicinal plants, but ethnobotanical interest in the genus is growing.