Question 1

What is Burmannia disticha?

Accepted Answer

Burmannia disticha is a small herbaceous flowering plant in the family Burmanniaceae. It grows in moist tropical habitats and is documented in Sri Lanka's catalog of ayurvedic medicinal plants. The plant produces small, characteristically winged blue flowers and is distributed across tropical Asia.

Question 2

Where does Burmannia disticha grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

It is typically found in wet lowland areas, moist grasslands, and the margins of paddy fields and seasonal wetlands. It favours the wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka, where moisture-retentive open ground provides a suitable habitat for this small plant.

Question 3

Is Burmannia disticha used in traditional Sri Lankan medicine?

Accepted Answer

It is included in Sri Lanka's official ayurvedic medicinal plant catalog, indicating recognized ethnobotanical significance. However, it is not among the most widely used or commercially traded medicinal plants in contemporary ayurvedic practice. Its documentation primarily contributes to the completeness of traditional botanical knowledge.

Question 4

What family does Burmannia disticha belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the family Burmanniaceae, within the order Dioscoreales. The genus Burmannia was named after the Dutch botanist Johannes Burman and contains around 60 species worldwide, most of which occur in tropical regions.

Question 5

Is Burmannia disticha endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

No, Burmannia disticha is not endemic to Sri Lanka. It has a broader distribution across tropical Asia. Sri Lanka represents part of its natural range, and the species is documented there as part of the island's rich botanical and ayurvedic plant inventory.

Question 6

How does Sri Lanka catalogue its ayurvedic medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka maintains a formal catalog of ayurvedic medicinal plants under its traditional medicine regulatory framework. This inventory documents plants recognized by classical ayurvedic texts as well as species identified through local ethnobotanical practice. The catalog supports both the regulation of traditional medicine and conservation efforts.

Question 7

Why are small plants like Burmannia disticha important for biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Small, inconspicuous plants often occupy highly specific microhabitats such as seasonal wetlands and wet grasslands that are under growing pressure from land-use change. Their documentation in medicinal plant catalogs creates an institutional record that can support conservation arguments and inform protected-area management in biodiversity-rich countries like Sri Lanka.