Question 1

What is Aniseia martinicensis used for in traditional medicine?

Accepted Answer

Aniseia martinicensis appears in Sri Lanka's ayurvedic medicinal plant catalog and has been associated in ethnobotanical literature with applications related to skin conditions and digestive complaints. Formal clinical research on the species is still limited. Its use is more common in village-level traditional practice than in mainstream clinical ayurveda.

Question 2

What family does Aniseia martinicensis belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, commonly known as the morning glory family. This family also includes sweet potato and bindweed. The genus Aniseia is a small grouping within this family, with A. martinicensis being its most widely distributed species.

Question 3

Where does Aniseia martinicensis grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lanka, Aniseia martinicensis is found mainly in lowland wet and intermediate zones, growing in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, field margins, and secondary vegetation. It is a pantropical species also found across Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas.

Question 4

Is Aniseia martinicensis endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

No, it is not endemic. Aniseia martinicensis has a wide pantropical distribution, occurring across multiple continents and island groups. Its presence in Sri Lanka is part of this broad range, and it has been incorporated into the island's traditional ayurvedic plant catalog rather than being a uniquely Sri Lankan species.

Question 5

How does Sri Lanka document its ayurvedic medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka maintains a national catalog of ayurvedic medicinal plants supported by government institutions including the Ayurveda Research Institute and the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine. The catalog records species identifiers, local names, habitats, and documented traditional uses. This documentation effort is part of a broader national policy recognising ayurveda as a formal component of the healthcare system.

Question 6

What does the species name martinicensis mean?

Accepted Answer

The species epithet martinicensis refers to Martinique, the Caribbean island, reflecting where early botanical specimens used to formally describe the species were collected. This is common in botanical nomenclature, where the type locality — the place of the original specimen — is encoded in the species name even when the plant is found across a much wider area.

Question 7

Can travellers see traditional ayurvedic plants while visiting Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sri Lanka's botanical gardens, rural home gardens, and forest reserves offer many opportunities to encounter plants used in the island's ayurvedic tradition. Guided visits to areas such as the Sinharaja Forest Reserve or village-based experiences can give travellers direct exposure to traditional botanical knowledge in its natural context.