Question 1

What is Chloris barbata used for in traditional medicine?

Accepted Answer

Chloris barbata is documented in Sri Lankan and South Asian ayurvedic traditions for its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. It is used in preparations addressing urinary disorders, fever, and certain skin conditions. Traditional formulations are typically decoctions or pastes prepared and administered by qualified practitioners.

Question 2

Is Chloris barbata native to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Chloris barbata is not originally native to Sri Lanka — it is native to tropical Africa but has naturalised widely across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. In Sri Lanka it is common on roadsides, field margins, and disturbed ground, particularly in the dry and intermediate zones.

Question 3

What does Chloris barbata look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a slender grass typically 20–60 cm tall with flat lance-shaped leaves. Its most recognisable feature is a cluster of purplish, finger-like flower spikes radiating from the top of the stem, giving the plant a distinctive appearance among roadside and waste-ground vegetation.

Question 4

What family does Chloris barbata belong to?

Accepted Answer

Chloris barbata belongs to Poaceae, the grass family — one of the largest and most economically important plant families in the world. Within Poaceae, the genus Chloris includes around 55 species of tropical and subtropical grasses.

Question 5

Where can Chloris barbata be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It grows most abundantly in Sri Lanka's dry zone, including the North Central, Northern, and Eastern provinces. It also appears along roadsides and agricultural margins throughout the low country. The plant thrives on poor, disturbed, or degraded soils and tolerates seasonal drought well.

Question 6

How does Sri Lanka's ayurvedic plant catalogue work?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda maintains a formal catalogue of medicinal plants used in indigenous medicine, assigning reference codes to species such as Chloris barbata (LK94006006). This catalogue supports practitioners, researchers, and conservation efforts by documenting each plant's traditional applications and botanical identity.

Question 7

Is Chloris barbata the same as fingergrass?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Chloris barbata is commonly known as swollen fingergrass or purpletop chloris, names that refer to its distinctive digitate (finger-like) inflorescence. The purplish awns on its seed glumes give dense stands a characteristic colour, especially during the flowering and seeding period.