Question 1

What is Ochrosia oppositifolia?

Accepted Answer

Ochrosia oppositifolia is a native Sri Lankan tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is known locally as Moodu Kaduru or Gonna in Sinhala. The species is characterised by opposite or whorled leaf arrangement and milky sap typical of the Apocynaceae family.

Question 2

Is Ochrosia oppositifolia endangered in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) under Sri Lanka's National Conservation Status assessment of 2012. This means it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild if current pressures, primarily habitat loss in lowland forests, continue unchecked.

Question 3

What family does Ochrosia oppositifolia belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to Apocynaceae, a large family of flowering plants that includes frangipanis, oleanders, and many tropical trees. Members of this family typically produce milky latex and contain alkaloids, and several are known to be toxic if consumed.

Question 4

What are the local names for Ochrosia oppositifolia in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The species is commonly referred to as Moodu Kaduru and Gonna in Sinhala. No widely used Tamil or English common name is formally recorded for this particular species.

Question 5

Does Ochrosia oppositifolia have any edible parts?

Accepted Answer

No edible parts are recorded for this species. Like many members of the Apocynaceae family, the plant likely contains alkaloids that make consumption inadvisable. It should not be used as food or medicine without expert guidance.

Question 6

Where can Ochrosia oppositifolia be found in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The species is native to Sri Lanka and is typically associated with lowland and coastal forest habitats. Confirmed localities are relatively limited, and the best chances of encountering it are within protected forest reserves in the wetter lowland zones of the island.

Question 7

Are there medicinal uses for Ochrosia oppositifolia?

Accepted Answer

No specific traditional medicinal use has been formally documented for this species in Sri Lankan ethnobotanical records. Related Ochrosia species have been studied in laboratory settings for potentially bioactive alkaloids, but this does not translate to confirmed safe use of the Sri Lankan species.

Scientific Name	Ochrosia oppositifolia
Family Name	APOCYNACEAE
English Name
Local Name	Moodu kaduru (???? ?????) / Gonna (?????)
Sanskrit Name
Conservation Status	VU (NCS)-2012
Status	Native
Edible Parts	None

Ochrosia oppositifolia %