Question 1

What is Typhonium trilobatum used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lankan and South Asian Ayurvedic practice, Typhonium trilobatum has been traditionally used for skin conditions, inflammatory disorders, and certain respiratory complaints. The corm is the most commonly used part, always after appropriate processing to remove natural irritants. Specific therapeutic use should be directed by a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Question 2

Is Typhonium trilobatum found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the plant grows naturally across Sri Lanka's lowland wet and intermediate zones, often in moist, shaded habitats, home gardens, and at the edges of cultivated land. It is catalogued in Sri Lanka's official Ayurvedic materia medica as a recognized medicinal plant.

Question 3

Is Typhonium trilobatum safe to eat raw?

Accepted Answer

No. Like many members of the Araceae family, Typhonium trilobatum contains calcium oxalate crystals in its raw form, which cause significant irritation to the mouth and digestive tract. Traditional Ayurvedic preparations always process the plant before use. It should never be consumed without expert guidance.

Question 4

What does Typhonium trilobatum look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a small tuberous herb, typically 30–60 cm tall, with distinctively three-lobed dark green leaves on long stalks. The inflorescence features a purple-maroon spathe enclosing a pale spadix, typical of the Araceae family. The underground corm is the main part used medicinally.

Question 5

What is the Sinhala name for Typhonium trilobatum?

Accepted Answer

The plant is known in Sri Lanka by Sinhala vernacular names including Kandagodu and Kana Konthari, though local names can vary by region. It is formally identified by its scientific name in the national Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.

Question 6

Which plant family does Typhonium trilobatum belong to?

Accepted Answer

Typhonium trilobatum belongs to the family Araceae, subfamily Aroideae. This large tropical plant family also includes taro, elephant foot yam, and many ornamental aroids. Members of the family share characteristic spathe-and-spadix inflorescences and often contain irritant calcium oxalate crystals.

Question 7

Where can I learn more about Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda, under the Ministry of Health, maintains the official catalogue of recognized medicinal plants used in traditional medicine. Ethnobotanical research institutions and the University of Kelaniya's Institute of Indigenous Medicine are also key sources for documented information on plants like Typhonium trilobatum.