Question 1

What is Hernandia nymphaeifolia used for in ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Hernandia nymphaeifolia is catalogued in the Sri Lankan ayurvedic medicinal plant tradition, with various parts of the tree — including bark, leaves, and seeds — noted for therapeutic applications in classical texts. The seed oils have attracted particular attention across South and Southeast Asian traditional medicine. Its use is typically guided by a qualified ayurvedic practitioner.

Question 2

Where does Hernandia nymphaeifolia grow?

Accepted Answer

The species grows in tropical coastal habitats, particularly on sandy beaches and littoral fringes across the Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. In Sri Lanka, it is found along stretches of the southern and western coastlines where natural beach vegetation remains intact. It tolerates salt spray, sandy soils, and periodic flooding.

Question 3

What family does Hernandia nymphaeifolia belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the family Hernandiaceae, a small pantropical family. The genus Hernandia contains around 25 species distributed across tropical coastlines and islands worldwide. The species is sometimes called the jack-in-a-box tree, named after its distinctive lantern-like fruit that encloses a hard nut.

Question 4

Why is Hernandia nymphaeifolia important for coastal ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

The tree plays a functional role in stabilising sandy shorelines through its root system, helping to reduce coastal erosion. It also provides canopy cover for coastal wildlife and its buoyant fruit is adapted for dispersal by ocean currents, allowing it to colonise new beaches naturally. This makes it a useful pioneer species in coastal vegetation restoration.

Question 5

What does the Hernandia nymphaeifolia fruit look like?

Accepted Answer

The fruit is one of the tree's most recognisable features — a hard nut enclosed within an inflated, cup-shaped fleshy envelope that aids dispersal by floating on seawater. This lantern-like structure gives the plant its common name, jack-in-a-box tree. The overall appearance is quite distinct from most other tropical fruiting trees.

Question 6

Is Hernandia nymphaeifolia endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

No, the species is not endemic to Sri Lanka. It has a wide pantropical distribution spanning the coasts of the Indian Ocean and Pacific, including East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Pacific island groups. Sri Lanka lies within its natural range, where it is recognised in both botanical and ayurvedic records.

Question 7

How can I identify Hernandia nymphaeifolia?

Accepted Answer

The most distinctive identifying features are its large peltate leaves — where the stalk attaches near the centre of the leaf blade — and its unusual enclosed fruit. The tree produces small cream to pale yellow flowers in clusters. It is typically found growing right at the coast, which narrows the habitat in which you are likely to encounter it in Sri Lanka.