Question 1

What is Spinifex littoreus used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic tradition, Spinifex littoreus is listed as a medicinal plant with various traditional applications. Different parts of the plant are cited in indigenous pharmacopeias, with associated properties including anti-inflammatory and cooling effects. Modern clinical research on this specific species remains limited, and its use sits within a broader classical framework of plant-based medicine.

Question 2

Where does Spinifex littoreus grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Spinifex littoreus grows primarily on open sandy beaches and coastal dune systems along Sri Lanka's western, southern, and north-western coastlines. It is a pioneer species that colonises bare sand and tolerates high salinity, intense sun, and nutrient-poor soils. It is most visible on undeveloped or lightly disturbed beaches where natural dune vegetation remains intact.

Question 3

Is Spinifex littoreus native to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Spinifex littoreus is native to coastal regions across tropical and subtropical Asia, including Sri Lanka. It is not endemic to the island but occurs naturally along the coastline as part of the regional littoral flora. It is part of the family Poaceae and one of a small genus of dune-colonising grasses found from South Asia through to Australia.

Question 4

What does Spinifex littoreus look like?

Accepted Answer

It is a low-growing, sprawling grass with long creeping stolons that spread across open sand. Its leaves are stiff and pointed, and the plant produces distinctive round, spiky seed heads that are dispersed by the wind. The overall appearance is of a dense, mat-forming grass adapted to exposed coastal conditions.

Question 5

What role does Spinifex littoreus play in the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Spinifex littoreus is an important pioneer species that stabilises coastal sand dunes by binding loose substrate with its root system. This erosion-control function helps protect coastlines from wind and wave action and creates conditions that allow other plant communities to establish further inland. Its ecological role is increasingly valued in the context of coastal erosion management.

Question 6

Is Spinifex littoreus the same as Spinifex in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Spinifex littoreus belongs to the same genus as the Australian coastal Spinifex species and shares similar dune-stabilising traits, but it is a distinct species adapted to South and Southeast Asian coastal habitats. The Australian interior 'spinifex' grasses, sometimes referred to in that country, belong to a different genus (Triodia) and are unrelated.

Question 7

How is Sri Lanka's coastal medicinal plant tradition documented?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda maintains an official catalogue of medicinal plants used in the island's classical and folk traditions, which includes coastal species such as Spinifex littoreus. Ethnobotanical research by local and international institutions has also contributed to documenting plants known to coastal communities. Much traditional knowledge, however, remains within specific lineages and rural communities rather than in widely published texts.