Question 1

What is Hydrophylax maritima used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Hydrophylax maritima is listed in Sri Lanka's catalogue of Ayurvedic medicinal plants. Traditional practitioners have associated it with applications such as skin conditions and wound healing, drawing on its coastal habitat and the plant's properties as understood within the Ayurvedic system. Clinical research on the plant remains limited, and professional guidance is recommended before any medicinal use.

Question 2

Where does Hydrophylax maritima grow?

Accepted Answer

The plant grows along sandy coastal habitats in South and South-East Asia, including Sri Lanka's western and southern shorelines. It thrives in open, sun-exposed ground near the sea, tolerating salt spray and nutrient-poor sandy soils. It is not found in forests or highland areas.

Question 3

Is Hydrophylax maritima native to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Hydrophylax maritima is found naturally in Sri Lanka as part of the island's coastal flora. It belongs to the family Rubiaceae and is distributed across coastal regions of South and South-East Asia more broadly. Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda includes it in the official catalogue of the island's medicinal plants.

Question 4

What family does Hydrophylax maritima belong to?

Accepted Answer

It belongs to the family Rubiaceae, a large and diverse plant family that also includes coffee, gardenias, and many other tropical species. Within this family, Hydrophylax is a small coastal genus adapted to sandy shoreline environments.

Question 5

Can I see Hydrophylax maritima when visiting Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The plant is not a feature of standard tourist itineraries, but botanically inclined travellers may spot it on quieter sandy beaches, particularly along the west and south coasts. Ayurvedic herbal gardens near Kandy offer a more structured way to encounter Sri Lanka's medicinal plant heritage in context.

Question 6

How many medicinal plants are in Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic catalogue?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia is extensive, cataloguing hundreds of native and naturalised plant species used in traditional healing. The Department of Ayurveda maintains a formal register, and Hydrophylax maritima is among the coastal species included. The island's plant diversity, shaped by its position as a biodiversity hotspot, makes its botanical heritage unusually rich relative to its size.

Question 7

Are coastal plants like Hydrophylax maritima under threat in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Coastal plant communities in Sri Lanka face pressure from shoreline development, erosion, and climate-related sea-level changes. Sand-binding plants that stabilise dunes are particularly vulnerable when coastal land is cleared or disturbed. While there is no widely published specific threat listing for Hydrophylax maritima, the broader strand-plant community it belongs to is considered ecologically sensitive.