Ethno-botany, an adjunct to Place-Names studies
වෙසෙස් ලිපි
Place-names Maps
Place-names Main page
සිංහල තෙක්න වදන්
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes, Links | |
| Abelmoschus angulosus, A.moschatus (Muskdana, Ambrette,Musky-seeded hibiscus, Okra, Ornamental Okra) | Kapukinissa | latakasturika- | varttilai kasturi- | The seeds of this Okra like plant are scented, and the oil is
used in perfumes. It is used in Asian-Indian medicine as being effective against "Pheglm ('sem" in Sri Lanka), and "Air"(Vaatha)., and for aphrodisiac, opthalmic, cardiotonic, digestiveand other applications in herbal medicine, snake-bite therapy etc. Images |
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| Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra, ladies Fingers, Bhindi) | Bandakka | pitali | vendai, Vendaikkaay | Images and write up Claims of traditional (herbal) medicine ETC. | Abrus melanospermus, Abrus pulchellus | Ela Olinda | - | - | A slender perennial twiner, glabrous with long internodes, stems slender, cylindrical,
branched with smooth wrinkled brown bark; leaves alternate with stipules.
"the leaves are by far the sweetest part of the plant, and from them a tolerable extract may be made, but in most parts of India, where true liquorice is obtainable in any quantity as an article of commerce, it would be much more expensive to collect them than to use liquorice. The roots of Taverniera nummularia, and Alysicarpus longifolius, are sweet like liquorice, and are called liquorice in India."(Dymcock, Warden, Hooper) - |
| Abrus precatorius | Olinda | raktika kakachinchi | kunri,Adisamiyai | Seeds are most poisonous- Images | |
| Abutilon indicum (indian mallow) | Beheth Anoda, Wal Anoda | Athibala,- | thuththi | The plant may grow to two meters, with golden yellow flowers. The powdered parts of the leaf are eaten with honey in alternative medicine. Herbal medicine | |
| Acacia Arabica (babul tree, Indian gum tree) | Baabulu | babbula | Karuval | species of Acacia all of which yield a gum resin which is used both medicinally and for various economic purposes. Acacia gum has astringent, styptic, and tonic properties, and of these varieties Acacia gum and Acacia Catechu are much used in medicine. - | |
| Acacia caesia | Hingurupatta vel, Hingurupaththa vael | Nikunjika | indu, intu, vellintu, inkakkai | - | |
| Acacia catechu | katu andara, Kaippu (?) | - | karunkali, karangalli | A large shrub with thornes used as a hedge plant. Flowers in axillary. Seeds in thin pods. -Woody branches are used as toothbrushes. The pod powder is a substitute for soap.The leaf is used as a vegetable. The powdered bark is also a substitute-soap and its decoction is used as a lice killers. see Soloman eraju et al., current science, vol. 91, NO. 7, 10 OCTOBER 2006 | |
| Acacia chundra, Acasia sundra | Kihiri, Rat Kihiriya | - | karangali | A small tree with a dark brown bark and purple young shoots. | |
| Acacia farnesiana | Seenidda | - | velvel | - | |
| Acacia ferruginea | Ela Kihiriya | - | - | - | |
| Acacia leucophloea | Katu Keena, katu kihiri | - | velvelam, karuvel, | The 'katu' in sinhala may have the meaning of thorn or forest-brush, while keena also means sharp. The word "veal" in tamil means "thorn" and karuveal virtually means "dark thorns"- | |
| Acacia nilotica (gum arabic tree) | Katu kihiri | babbula,Varvrurha | tiritapicam , kathira maram | The gum arabic was introduced to S. Asia by Arabs in medieval times. | |
| Acacia tomentosa | Ali katu | - | Aani mulla | - | |
| Acalypha indica | Kuppamenia, Kuppamenia | haritamanjari | kuppaimeni | An annual herb-leaves simple, alternate, 3.7~cm long, The same name is confusingly used for Nepeta cateria or Catnip in the local languages of Sri lanka. Acalypha is used against asthma, piles, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Image | |
| Acanthus illcifolius | Katu Ikili, Vael Ikiri | - | Kazhuthai Mulli, Kalutaamul | See also Trapa bicornis = ikiliya, related to mangroves. Placename: Katukiliyavala (Kalutavalai) |
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| Achyranthes aspera | Karal Heba, kinihi | Apamarga, Khara-manjar | nayuruvi | Wildly growing weed, up to one metre high, flowers reddish-green, Used in incantations.believed to be a talisman to safeguard against scorpions and snakes - | |
| Acorus calamus (Sweet Flal, Calamus) | Wadakaha, Vad(h)akaha - වදකභ | Vacha,Sadgrantha - | vacampu, vasambu | Medicinal plant; An aromatic, marshy herb with a stout creeping
and branching rootstock- In Sanskrit, vaca means "speaking". It is claimed to stimulate expression and intelligence. The Ayurvedic Sarasvata choorna, which contains vaca is commonly used in epilepsy, hysteria etc. Maharishi Charaka , the ancient Indian medical writer, had ascribed exceptional properties to it. During the 1955 total solar eclipse visible in Sri Lanka the astrologers even claimed that drinking a concoction of "Vadhakaha" would change dark complexioned skin to fair complexion. Hence the "Baila" song "Bivva ne~da vadakaha sudiya~". Image Down load 2010 election song written to the tune of "vadhakaha sudiya |
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| Acronychia pedunculata | Ankenda | Gandha rusa- | - | Medicinal: Fractures,Ulcers,Purgatives,Scabies-
Acrovestine, a cytotoxic principle has been found in the stem and roots. Ayurvedic oils.Pyranocoumerins have been isolated. Popular as a Bonsai ornamental plant. |
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| Adansonia digitata- | Aliya Gaha- | - | - | A very large tree with a smooth, pinkish-grey bark; leaves alternate, palmate compound, deciduous- | |
| Adenanthera aglaosperma Alston | Masmora ? | - | - | classification Reference: Adenanthera aglaosperma Alston [Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Peradeniya) 11:204. 1929] (= Adenanthera bicolor Moon ex Thwaites) - | |
| Adenanthera pavonina, Adenanthera microsperma Teijsm (Red beadtree) | Madatiya, Madhatiya, මදටිය | kusandana | tilam, manjadi | Large Tree. The deep red seeds are similar to "Olinda" seeds. The "madetiya" seed
was used in traditional medicine as a weight measure known as manchaadi or madeta, as the
seeds are rather regular in size, and do not dry up due to the
thick shell. In England Barley seeds were used as a weight, with 480 grains
being one ounce. According to H. W. Codrington (Ceylon coins and currency, 1924) a "madeta"
or manchaadi was roughly 3.3-3.4 English grains, while a Kalanda was 20 "madeta" or "manchadis". The Oil, leaves, bark, seed etc. are used in traditional herbal treatments. This tree is also sometimes known as "Red Sandlewood tree", However, red sandlewood is Pterocarpus santalinus (see write up under the letter P). Image | |
| Adhatoda vasica, Adhatoda zeylanica (Malabarnut tree, Pavatta) | Agaladara, Agalaadaara, Adathoda | vrasa, Vasaka | Atatotai, Adadodai |
This is a dense shrub with a yellowish bark; grows to a height of 1.2 to 2.4
meters with many long ascending branches. The elongated lanceolate leaves are
dark green and paler beneath.The white flowers are borne in short dense
axillary spikes. Important medicinal herb, used for relief of chest colds etc. An infusion of Adathoda leaves, ginger, and honey, or decoctions of Adathoda, Katuvael batu (Solanum Jacquini), Elabatu (Solonum Indica), ginger and Tipplili (piper niger) are also used, as home remedies, in Sri Lanka.See Peyaava Description and Images | |
| Adiantum capillus-veneris, (black maidenhair fern) | Vaelvaenna, Walwenna, Walawenna | Parna- | - | Common houseplant in the west. Not native to Sri lanka. Used as a medicinal herb (for cough) but now ferns are recognized as possibly carcinogenic and toxic. Used externally against snakebite. | |
| Adina cordifolia | Kolon | - | mancal katampu, kadambai | See also Xanthochymus pictorius, Xanthocymus pictorius regarding "Kolon gaha" and false etymologies based on regarding the place-name "Colombo". - | |
| Aegiceras Corriculatum | Heen Kadol | - | Vithilikanna | related to mangroves | |
| Aegle marmelos | Beli | - | kuvilam | A large tree with fruit-shell containing a yellow sweet pulp. Flowers and tender
leaves are used to make herbal tea. Fruit helps digestion.
Beli is used in the Dashamoola Arishtaya. The place name "Beligala" is mentioned in the Kadaimpotha acoording to: Journal of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Soc., Volume 8, Issues 26-29 "The principality of Beligala appears in the Kadaimpoth, or "old boundary books", among the districts of the Maaya division". Beligala was included in the 13 great temples where Bodhi treas were planted by Chulabhaya. When the Tooth relic was brought from Kothmale by Wijayabahu III (13th century), after concelement during the time of the Magha-Kalinga, the relic went to dambadeniya (Jambudroni) and then to Beligala. The famous Bhuvaneka Bahu Pirivena probabaly existed here. The text Rajaratnaakaraya reports useful historical details which complement the sparse discussion in the Plai chronicles. | |
| Aerva lanata | Polpala, pol-kuduplala | - | cirupilai | Medicinal herb, diuretic taken as a tisane: Annuab herb, 60-75 cm tall, often woody at base ; stems green, erect or prostrate, with numerous, slender, cylindrical, more or less cottony, hairy branches leaves simple, alternate, 1.2-2.5 cm long, 0.9-2.5 cm broad, oval or spathulate-oval- | |
| Agave vera-cruz (Agave, Century plant)) | Pathok-hana- | Kantala- | Alagai- | - | |
| Ageratum conyzoides(Billygoat-weed, Chick weed, Goatweed, Whiteweed;) | Hulantala- | - | appakkoti | Common weed, some times used in herbal medicine. But now it is known to be dangerous to the liver and could be toxic in other ways. | |
| Aglaia roxburghiana | Puwangu, Puvangu | - | cokkalai, kannikkompu | Place name: Puvangudiva, puvangudoova, mentioned in the
Pali chronicles.; Morphology: A moderate-sized or large tree (mahogany family) with a smooth, dull grayish orange bark and young parts covered with minute ferruginous scales; leaves compound, alternate, exstipulate, pinnate, rachis ~5 cm long. An anti-inflammatory. see also Myristica horsfieldia ,. Many Aglaia species are similar and Aglaia odorata (Chinese Rice Flower) is sometimes said to be "puvangu". The treaa known as "Mal-Karanda" (Millettia pinnata) may also have been the ancient "Puvangu" . |
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| Agrostistachys Indica | Beru- | - | - | Shrub or trea,
Descriptions
The name Agrostistachys ciricacea " has been listed in an Asia-Pacific database but we don't know what it is - |
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| Alangium lamarkii, Alangium lamarkii, Grewia salvifolia.- | Ruk-Anguna1- | Ankota. Dhalakura | - | A small tree, used in indegeneous medicine for skin diseases, dysentry fever etc. The leaves have been shown to reduce inflammation. Image and writeup | |
| Alangium salviifolium (sage-leaf Alangium, Sage Dogwood) | Ruk-Anguna- | Amkol | alincil,sainkolam | tall thorny tree, - In Ayurveda the roots and the fruits are used for rheumatism, and hemorrhoid.Externally used for the treatment of animal bites | |
| Alastonia scholaris- C.f., Alstonia S. | Ruk Attana - | - | - | Place name: Aettampana (Adampan) | |
| Albizia amara (Oil cake tree)- | Iha - | Krishnasrirsh | Vunja- | Images and write up - | |
| Albizia lebbeck | Mara, Maara, Sooriya Mara | - | bhandi, sirisah | - | |
| Albizia odoratissima | Sooriya Mara, Albezia, Girizeeniya | sirisa | karuvagai | Morphology:A very large tree with a thick, grey bark, spreading branches and
pubescent young parts;leaves alternate, bipinnate compound, large,
10-15 cm long, pubescent with a single large sessile gland near the base
and generally one between bases of termi. This tree has gained significance in Dendro bio-energy applications as it laps up the sun (sooriya) and grows quickly | |
| Allamanda cathartica (Golden trumpet) | Val Ruk Attana - | Chashakapushpi - | - | Ornamental plant, but the milky latex is poisonous. Although claimed to be from Brazil, it is known in Sanskrit. Image - | |
| Allium ascalonicum (red onions, shallots) | Rathuloonu- | Lasuna, rasona - | Vellaippuntu- | - | |
| Allium sativum (Garlic) | Suduloonu - | - | puntu, vellulli | Garlic is a valuable component in good cooking.
Claims have been made that consumption of garlic reduces stomach, intestinal and colo-rectal cancers, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol etc., esp by proponents of alternative medicine. The picture is not unequivocal although there seems to be some evidence in favour of these claims. Some scientific studies on garlic |
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| Allophylus cobbe, A. zeylanicus (Tit berry) | Kobbe, kobbae කොබෙයි ගභ - | Triputa- | Amalai- | Native to Sri Lanka. The bark is used, peeled down towards the roots, to make bandages in traditional orthopaedic treatments. Images and write up. | |
| Alocasia indica, A- macrorrhiza | Habarala - | - | - | Morphology:A robust herb with bright green, large, triangular-sagittate, slightly repand leaves with strongly marked, whitish midrib and 6\u20148, strong, pale, secondary nerves. - | |
| Alocasia macrorrhizos (giant taro, elephant-ear taro) | Nai Habarala, Habarala - | Hastikarni - | Parum sembu - | The leaves can grow to three meters and is said to be the largest known undivided leaf.- Alocasia alba is the smaller, common species in Sri Lanka. | |
| Aloe species- | Vel Komarika Vael Komarika kirikawelu |
- | - | (see also Clough's dictionary) A perennial herb with a very short, thick, cylindrical, simple, woody stem sending out at the base numerous stolons; roots fibrous and fleshy; leaves not very- numerous, sessile, densely crowded on the short stem with wide, dilated bases, spreading below. The most commonly used preparation from this herb is the aloe gel, a thick viscid liquid found in the interior of the leaves. The leaves are used in the treatment of burns etc. See Komarika |
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| Aloe vera - littiralis | Komarica, Komarika | - | - | Pulp of thick leaf has medicinal applications. See Aloe Vera Images and claims of use in traditional medicine | |
| Alpinia calcarata- | Heen Araththa- | - | - | Medicinal herb used in Sinhala medicine. Seee Arambawela et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 95, Issues 2-3, December 2004, Pages 311-316 | |
| Alpinia galanga | Maha Araththa, Arratta, Gandhanakuli (Clough P153) | - | arattai,perarattai | - | |
| Alstonia macrophylla | Havari Nuga | - | - | Similar to Ruk Atana (see A. Scholaris) | |
| Alstonia scholaris, c.f., Alastonia S. (milkwood pine, Indian Devil tree) | Ruk Attana | saptaparna | elilaippalai | Large Tree. see also under Datura Attampana (Adampan), Attampanthala (Adampantalavu) Podidompe (Sinnadampan) Seeds are highly poisonous and alters consciousness. The bark and latex are used in herbal medications. | |
| Alstonia venenata | Midella | raja-adana | sinnappalai, palamunnipalai | - | |
| Alternanthera sessilis | Mukunuwenna, Mukunuvaenna | matsyaksaka | ponnankanni, kotuppai | A prostrate herb with numerous, subquadrangular, glabrous stems, 15-60 cm long.- valuable SRI Lanka leaf-food, in "Kola kaenda"(leaf broth) and "Maellung"(cooked salad). Medicinal uses in herbal medicine. Images and write up | |
| Alysicarpus ovalifolius, A. vaginalis (white moneywort, Alyce clover) | Aswenna Aesvaenna- | - | - | A semi-woody herbaceous annual with numerous long stems ~60 cm long, ascending, branched, wiry, glabrous, often rooting at the base; leaves alternate, 1-foliate, variable, ~1.2 cm long, on petioles about a third as long, varying from linear-lanceolate.- | |
| Amaranthus oleraceus, A- paniculatus, A-spinosus. | Thampala - | - | - | See Amaranthus Tricolor for the common "Tampala". A- paniculatus is a tall annual, ~1.2 m high with stout, grooved and striate, glabrous or slightly pubescent stems ; leaves simple, alternate, ~5 cm long, ~2.5cm broad, elliptic lanceolate, acute or acuminate, base cuneate, nerves slender, numerous. A. Spinosus is much shorter, green. - |
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| Amaranthus polygonoides | vael Tampala- | - | - | A prostrate, glabrous herb with many spreading branches ; leaves small, 0.7 cm long, 0.5 broad, obovate or obovate-lanceolate or spathulate, obtuse or rounded at apex, sharply apiculate. tapering to the petiole.- | |
| Amaranthus tricolor | Thampala | tanduliyah ? | cerikkirai,thandukkeerai | Palahena (Palachenai) Palamotte (Palamoddai) Thampalagama (Tampalakamam) | |
| Amaranthus viridis | Koora Thampala | tanduliyah | kuppaikkirai, vakucakkirai | - | |
| Amorphophallus campanulatus | Kidaran - | - | karakarunai, boomi sallaraikilangu | - | |
| Ampelocissus indica - | Rata Bawlath Vael, Val midda vael ? - | - | - | Image- A vine with grape-like fruit (poisonous) probabaly containing oxalates. | |
| Anacardium occidentale (Cashew) | Kadju, kaju | kajutaka | muntiri, andimangottai | Popularized by the Portuguese, initially as a soil improver. | |
| Anaectochilus setaceus | Vana raja mala, WanaRaja mala | - | - | - | |
| Amyrus agallocha | Gugul | - | - | type of balsam tree, as per Clough's dictionary, p163; also "gugulu" seems to have been used for Murunga. | |
| Anamirta cocculus | Thiththawel - Thiththavael | Anamurthi- | kakkai-k-kolli | - | |
| Ananas comosus | Annnasi | bahunetra, paravati | anashap-pazham, poonthazham pazham | Popularized by the Portuguese. Native to the Amazon with the Tupi name Nana However, some sinhala writers have argued that "Anna-asi" is derived from the words "sword (asi) which cuts (digests) the food (anna)". Names of fruits, plants etc are, unfortunately, never realistically originate from such clear etymological bases! - | |
| Ananas sativus | Annasi | anannasa, ama | annaci | see Ananas comosus | |
| Anaphalis subdecurrense | Maha Sudana | - | - | - | |
| Andrographis paniculata | Heen Kohomba- | - | nilavembu, nilavempu | see also: Azadirachta indica | |
| Andropogon contortus | Itana | - | kavattampul? | a grass | |
| Andropogon muricatus | Savandara, Saevaendara,Sawandara | - | - | Fragrant grass | |
| Andropogon squarrosus | saevandara | - | - | a grass | |
| Angel mamelos, Angel marmelos see Aegle marmelos | Beli | - | - | -see Aegle marmelos | Anisochilus carnosus | Kapparavalli | - | karppuravalli | Medicinal: Stimulants,Coughs,Expectorants |
| Anisomeles indica - | Yak Wanassa - | - | - | - | |
| Anisophyllea cinnamomoides - | Welipiyan, Vaelipiyan- | - | - | found in swamp forests, connected to the mangrove family- | |
| Annona Muricata (sour-sop, custard apple) | Katu Anoda,,Anona, Katu-Aaththa, Katu-anoda | sitaphal- | Seetha palam |
The name Katu-Aaththa is closely related to the
Bengali name Aththa, also used in Portuguese. The Tamil name is
clearly derived from the Sanskrit. Note that these names are used indiscriminately
for Annona Muricata and Annona squamosa which is very similar (squamosa is
correctly Vaeli Aththa, while muricata is Katu-Anoda or Katu-Aaththa) This is a well-known Sri lankan fruit with a very special falvour, due to the presence of various aliphatic esters which may be useful in food flavoring (2-hexenoic acid methyl ester 23.9% is dominant; Jirovetz et al.,J. Agric. Food Chem., 1998, 46 (9), pp 37193-720 ). The tree is small and fast-growing. The skin of the rather large fruit is thin and is covered with conical nibs. The white, pulpy flesh, which contains juice, is peppered with small shiny, black inedible seeds, and has a pleasant, sweet-acidic taste. As it is rather fibrous, its squeezed juice makes a better choice, and has, in fact become more popular than the fresh fruit as such. Soursop has few seedless varieties, but they are rare. Claimed medicinal benefits of Sour soup.. Its use as an anti-cancer agent (cyto-toxitc agent) has been tauted in the internet. However, we have found no reports of double-blind in vivo human experiments in reputed journals. Cytotoxic acetogenins have been reported for in vitro studies: F-R Change et al, J. Nat. Prod., 2001, 64 (7), pp 925-931 Reports such as the following may be found on the internet: An interesting in vivo study was published in March of 2002 by researchers in Japan, who were studying various acetogenins found in several species of plants. They inoculated mice with lung cancer cells. One third received nothing (the control group), one third received the chemotherapy drug adriamycin, and one third received the main graviola acetogenin, annonacin (at a dosage of 10 mg/kg). At the end of two weeks, five of the six in the untreated control group were still alive and lung tumor sizes were then measured. The adriamycin group showed a 54.6% reduction of tumor mass over the control group-but 50% of the animals had died from toxicity (three of six). The mice receiving annonacin were all still alive, and the tumors were inhibited by 57.9% -slightly better than adriamycin and without toxicity. This led the researchers to summarize; "This suggested that annonacin was less toxic in mice. On considering the antitumor activity and toxicity, annonacin might be used as a lead to develop a potential anticancer agent." . See also anecdotal reports on anti-cancer activity in Katupila. However, Katupila is not the same as Katu-Anonda (Anona Muricata) We identify Katupila with Fluegea Leucopyrus (Euphorbiaceae) | |
| Annona reticulata | Vaeli Anoda | lavani- | aninuna, manilayatta | - | |
| Annona squamosa | vaeli-Aththa, Anona | sitaphala | atta, sitapalam | - | |
| Anoectochilus setceus (Orchid) | Wana Raja, Vana raaaja | - | - | - | |
| Anogeissus latifolia | Dawu, Davu - | - | namai,vekkali | A small or medium-sized tree with an erect trunk, very smooth whitish-grey bark and glabrous young parts; leaves simple, alternate or subopposite without stipules.- | |
| Antiaris toxicaria | Riti gaha | - | nettavil | A tall evergreen tree about 40-45 m tall with a straight, trunk buttressed at the base and vertically panelled, mottled black and white bark; leaves simple, alternate, 10-20 cm long, oblong or oval-oblong, acuminate, mucronate, cuspidate, subcaudate, entire.- | |
| Apium Graviolens (Celeray) | Saeldiri, saldiri | - | - | Probabaly introduced to Sri lanka. Celery seed is believed to reduce uric acid levels in the blood and reduce Gout symptoms. |
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| Aponogeton crispus, Aponogeton natans | Kekatiya - | - | - | A submerged, fresh-water herb with a tuberous, subspherical, stoloniferous rootstock leaves long-petioled. - makes one white flower. Kekatiya images etc | |
| -Aporosa lindleyana | Kebella, Kaebaella | - | - | - | |
| Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. (Agar wood) | Aegila (?) | Kalani-niryaasa (Sanskrit name of the resin)- | - | Used in perfume products as the wood resin is valued- | |
| Arbus pecatorius | Gajaparaka, Gajaparaaka, Olinda | - | - | Plant bearing red seeds, with a black mark, very similar to Olinda | |
| Ardisia humilis - | Balu Dan - | - | - | - | |
| Areca catechu | Puwak, Puvak | puga, kramuka | kamugu, pakku | - | |
| Areca concinna - | Len taeri - | - | - | Species native to Sri Lanka, related to the famous Betel Nut palm,
and threatened by habitat loss.
The best-known member of the genus is A. catechu, (the arecanut palm). Several
types of Areca nuts, known for their stimulating and tangy taste, are
used for chewing, especially in combination with the leaves of Betels. |
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| Argyreia nervosa, Argyreia populifolia (Elephant creeper) | Girithilla | samudraphalaka, vriddadaru, murva,- | kakkatan, katar-palai, samuttira-p-pala | Images and write up Its use in traditional medicine in Sri lanka is reported in "Lanka Chronicle" as: "Various parts of the plant, including the latex, are used externally on the gums and wounds. The root of this pounded and boiled in coconut milk applied with excellent results to inflammation or swelling after dog bite. It is used also in cases of mad dog bites in order to prevent hydrophobia." The plant is specific and native to Sri Lanka. | |
| Arisaema leschenaultii - | Wal Kidaeam Val Kidaeam, Val Kidaram- | - | - | Monoecious or dioecious luberous herb tuber globose, about 5 cm diameter roots from the upper side of the tuber stem about 15 cm long, clothed with long mottled sheaths; leaf solitary ; petiole stout. 30-60 cm long, pale green. mottled and handed with red.- | |
| Aristolochia indica (Indian Birthwort) | Sapunda, Sapsunda, Sapasanda | Ishwari, Ahigandha - | perumaruntu, Perularundu | It is a creeper plant found in Sri lanka and South India, and grows on host trees.. Used in herbal medicine, e.g., to Attenuate fever,and as an emmenogouge, although it is believed to have carcinogenicity, contains aristolochic acid which is highly nephrotoxic. Is sapunda dangerous? It has been claimed that Stephania tetranda should be used in herbal preparations instead of Aristolchia fanghi or A. Indica. | |
| Artanema longifolium - | Gas Kotala, Gas Kethala | - | machipatchai ?- | - | |
| Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood) | Naagadamana, Naga Damana (?) | - | Makkippu | Regarded as a weed, it is a much branched, glabrous,
sweetly aromatic annual plant which may grows to a height of
about 2 meters.The leaves are bi- or tri- pinnatified, linear to lanceolate.
The flowers are yellow, appear in loose pinnacles. The name "naaga damana" may indicate that the juice of this plant, when thrown at a snake, makes the snake slow and weak (we have no confirmation or refutal of this). Images and write up Used in traditional Indo-Asian medicine in infusions etc., and believed to reduce fever, and even act as an ant-malarial medication. There is as yet no hard evidence for this. The plant contains an essential oil Artemisimin, and flavanoids. |
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| Artemisia moderaspatana, Grangea maderaspatana, Perdicium tomentosum (Madras carpet) | Mastharu, | Masipathri- | - | Regarded as a weed, Images and write up Used in traditional Indo-Asian medicine as a stomach ant-spasmodic, in infusions etc. | |
| Artocarpus Altilis | Dell | - | palavu, Palaa, pila | There are many species of breadfruit. They are hybrids of Artocarpus Altilis and Artocarpus mariannensis. | |
| Artocarpus mariannensis | Wal Dell ? | - | palavu, Palaa, pila ? | There are many species of breadfruit. They are
hybrids of Artocarpus Altilis and Artocarpus mariannensis. read about varieties of bread fruit | |
| Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit) | Herali, Kos, Vaela | Panasam | pila, pala, Palavu | The Mayalam Chakka is believed to be the origin of the English name.7nbsp; Image and write up It is claimed that "Vaeli kos aeta", (seeds) are good for diabetes - anecdotal sources only. Pols ambul, Kalupol maelluma are preparations using unripe Jack used as a vegetable. Atu kos, i.e., jack dried on the hearth ("Atuva") is smoked, shredded jack fruit which may be used in curry, or make into deserts with sugar syrup. The timber is highly valued. "Vaela" is the sinhlala name, some times used for a variety of "kos", but mostly use for the ripe, sweet stage of Kos. "Herali" is mostly used for the uripe stage of the fruit. We have no information on the origin of the sinhala word "Kos" (note, Assamese and Bengali: name: Kothal, Kathal, Thai: Kahnoon ), it may have originated from Kothal →. Koth → Kos . | Artocarpus Indica | Varaka | muraja-phala | muracapalam, Varukkai | - |
| Arundina graminifolia | Udawediya Mal, Udavaediya Mal | - | - | - | |
| Asparagus gonoclados | Hathavariya | - | thanneervittan kizhangu, Sirumal | - | |
| Asparagus racemosus | Haathavari | satavari | catavari, kilavari, Sandavari. | - | |
| Aspidium viviparum | Ganga-meevana, Gangameevana | - | - | Place name Meevanna also exists.
A species of shield fern. | |
| Asteracantha longifolia, (Hydrophila auriculata, Hygrophilia spinosa) | Ikiriya, Katu-Ikiriya, Neeramulliya, kokila | kokilaksa | nirmulli | Diuretic, native remedy for kidney stones,
HerbalTeas
A perennial herb with an ascending rhizome ; stems numerous, 60-120 cm tall, erect, nearly unbranched, somewhat compressed, thickened at nodes and hispid with long hair between nodes leaves simple. sessile. whorled.- | |
| Atalantia monophylla | Wal Dehi, Val dehi- | - | kurundu | There is also a variety known as "Gadaa dehi", with a rough skin, known as Kaffre lime. | |
| Atalantia ceylanica A. zeylanica- | Yakinaran, yak-naaran | - | Atalantia rotundifolia (Thw.) Tanaka is also listed as Yakinaran- | Citrus collection - | |
| Averrhoa Bilimbi | Bilin | - | - | Origin in the Malayan region, perhaps endemic to Sri lanka as well- Tree has small fruit used in chutneys and "Biling Achchcaru" etc. Images, write up | |
| Avicennia marina, A. officinalis (Mangrove) | Manda | - | Kanna | - | |
| Azadirachta indica (Margosa) | Kohomba | nimba- | vempu, vembu, veppa, | Aratikohombe (Aladiwembu)
Maha-Vaedi-Kohombe (Mavidivembu)
Kohombagamathota (Kombanachchi)
Kohombaweva (Veppankulam)
Kohombavaella (Veppanveli)
See "Kohomba" . It is medicinally and ritualistically important in Sri Lankana culture. "Kohomba Kankariya" is a well-known low-country exorcist ritual. "Pachchadi" is a "sambol (savoury mixture) made of he flowers of Margosa, the sour mango, and the sweet jaggery. Sweet rice (made with new raw red rice, jaggery, cashew nuts ghee, and plums) was eaten together with this sambol during Sinhala-Tamil new year (Hindu homes). Sinhalese homes make "Milk rice", to be eaten with jaggary. National Research Council Publication on medicinal, industrial and other aspects of the plant Neem extract is an eco-friendly insecticide and pesticide. It is manufactured in India and other S. Asian countries. As far as we are aware, in Sri Lanka, Kohomba extract is manufactured and distributed by the Island Marketing Services (pvt), Nawala, Sri Lanka |
|
| Azolla pinnata,(Mosquito Fern, Duckweed fern, Water fern, Fairy moss) | paasu-penda, kaerli penda? කැරලි පෙඳ | Pasubhojya, Plavini | - | Azolla filiculoides, Azolla caroliniana are other related species of
agricultural importance. It has been used in south asia for a
long time in rice-paddy cultivation as a manure (bio-fertilizer).
Its manure action is
related to its N-producing nodules and symbiosis with green algae
(cyanobacterium Anabaena), and in
making compost. It is also used as a cattle feed.
Images and notes Efforts to use azolla in Tamil Nadu |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Baccurea mottleyana (Rambi) | Gaduguda | - | - | The plant (Rambi) probabaly originated in Java - Indonesia. The fruit is eaten raw, consumed as juice or jelly etc. The plant has been studied within a Sri Lankan context by Pushpakumara and H. M. P. Gunasena" under-utilized fruit plants Pictures of fruit RE: The book " A Selection of Fruits of Sri Lanka by J. and T. Fernando 1997" Medicinal: fruit is used in dermatology. | |
| Bacopa monnieri | Lunuvila, Lunuwila | Brahami | pirami, piramiyam, carumam | Place names: Lunuvilaweva (Panemiyankulam); Medicinal: Aperients, Diuretic. | |
| Balanophora fungosa | Thippili | - | yanai, thippali | - | |
| Baliospermum montanum | Deththa - | Danthi - | peyamanakku | Has been used in indian medicine. e.g., one prescription (clear;y toxic in view of modern knowledge) says: Naraaccha rasa.1 Take of mercury, borax and black pepper, one part each, sulphur, ginger and long pepper two parts each, seeds of Baliospermum montanum nine parts; powder the ingredients and make into two-grain pills with water. These are given in constipation and tympanites. (source Hindu-materia Medica) | |
| Bambusa vulgaris (Bamboo) | Una, උන unabambu, උනබම්බු | Vamsah, Venuh- | Mulmankil | Bambo is a fast-growing, prennial woody grass. It is a part of South Indian
culture, with the Bamboo flute figuring early in Sanskrit works. The name "Una"
appears in many Sri lankan place names like "Una-Pandura", "Unagalla, Unapaana".
It is of immense economic importance but it has been extremely under exploited in Sri Lanka. Much can be learnt from the way Bamboo is used in China, Japan and in India. It is used: (i)To prevent soil erosion on hillsides and as a wind barrier(ii)Earth-quake resistant buildings (iii)Wood for furniture, fuel, poles, scaffolding, pulp, paper, composite planks, fabric, curtains, match sticks, incense sticks etc. (iii)Bamboo shoots are used as food. (iv)As a "Dendro" bio-fuel since bambo re-grows fast. India's National bamboo mission The young shoots of the tree are claimed to b be useful in stomach disorders. Pickled or cooked, they serve as an appetizer. In many parts of India the leaves of the tree are used in the from of decoction to treat diarrhoea, worms etc. Bamboo sticks are used in massage therapy. - |
|
| Barleria cristata (Philippine violet , Bluebell barleria or Crested Philippine violet) |
Godame~riya | - | nilamparam, udamulli | Shrub. different parts of Barleria Cristata have been used traditionally for the treatment of variety of diseases including anaemia, toothache, cough and as a hypoglycemic agent. Roots and leaves were used to reduce swellings in inflammation. Images and details of the plant Today it is'used in landscaping because of its attractive blue to white flowers, although it has the risk of becoming a weed. It grows best at heights of 1000 meters. | |
| Barleria lupulina - | Ranvan Katukarandu - | - | - | - | |
| Barleria prionitis -(Porcupine flower, Barleria ) | Katu Kurandu, Katukarandu - | Vajradanthi | Kundan, cemmulli, Varamulli - | A small shrub, ~0.6-1 m tall, much branched, branches cylindrical,
swollen above nodes labrous with sle er, very sharp spines in leaf axils, each
with 3-ivaricate branches leaves simple. It is claimed to have medicinal properties similar to "Aaadathoda". Images and write up The flower may be deep yellow to very pale yellow or whitish. |
|
| Barringtonia acutangula - | Ela Midella, Diya Midella - | - | - | - | |
| Barringtonia asiatica | Midella | - | - | - | |
| Basella alba (Spinache), c.f., Brassica alba | Nivithi, Niwithi, Gam nivithi | upodika | venpacali, sivappu vasalakkirai | - | |
| Bassia latifolia, B. longifolia | Mee, Madupa | Madhupa | iluppai, kattu iluppai | Ranmeeweva (Irana-illupaikulam), Madhupahena (Illupayadichenai)
Meepathota (Illupaikadavi) Bassia Nerifolia is "Gang-mee" | |
| Bauhinia racemosa | Maila | anupushpaka- svetakanchana | atti, vellai mantarai | Mahilaweva (Mahilankulam)
Mahiyapitiya (Mahiyapitti)
Mahilataenna (Mylanthanai)
Maligaspitiya (Mayilagasthidar)
Vakulavaedda (Makilavettuvan)
Maligaspe (Mailakaspai) A small tree with a thick, knotted trunk, much branched, bark blackish, very rough and much furrowed; leaves simple, alternate, small, conduplicate, 3.1-3.7 cm long, broader than long, truncate at base, cut 1/3 down into two broadly oval, rounded lobes. |
|
| Bauhinia tomentosa (Yellow orchid tree) | Petan, Kaha Penath | asmantaka- | kattatti,tiruvatti | Images and write up | |
| Bauhinia variegata (mountain ebony, Orchid tree) | Koboleela | Raktha Kanchana | segappumandrai, tiruvatti | Used for reforstation, wood board, production of gums and fibers, and also in alternative medicine where a decoction of the bark etc. is used.. Review | |
| Benincasa hispida | Alu Puhul | Rasaksa ? | Poosani, Pusalikkai, Vaidyakumbalam | Puhulvaella (Pullawali) Pulmoddai (Puhulmotte) Puhuleliya (Puloli) | |
| Begonia cordifolia | Gal Ebala | - | - | - | |
| Begonia malabarica | Maha Hakabala (Mal) | - | - | - | |
| Begonia suave-oleans | Kumburu wel, Kumburu Vael | - | - | creeper with a trumpet-like flower | |
| Berberis ceylanica Schnei. (barberry) | Suvana, Daruharida | Daruharidhra | - | Shrub up to 3 m tall, yellow flowered. Found up country. A "kasaaya" (decoction) made of the bark is used as a purge by estate workers. The fruits may be eaten. The bark is a valuable source of Tannin in India. | Berrya cordifolia | Halmilla | - | Chamndalai, Chavandalai, Kambamaram | Halmillavatta (Camulaiyativattai) |
| Birixa orilana | Ratakaha | karachhada- | varagumanjal, mantiravanci | - | |
| Blepharis repens - | Samadana - | - | - | A slender, perennial herb with prostrate, hispid-hairy, slightly branched, wiry stems; lea sessile, in a whorl, two of each whorl larger than others, oblong, 0.8-1.5 cm long, 0.3 cm broad, obtuse or rounded at apex, glabrous or slightly scabrid, fleshy and pale.- | |
| Blumea mills - | Kukula - | - | - | n annual herb with an erect stem ~30 cm high, branched above.- | |
| Boerhavia diffusa (pg weed) | Pita sudu sarana, Saarana | - | mukkirattai | The leaf is used in "maellung" (cooked salad). | |
| Bombax ceiba | Katu-Imbul, Pulun Imbul | Shalmali, purani- | mullilavu, ilavu | See: Ceiba pentandra | |
| Bombax malabaricum | Katu Imbul | mahavriksha ? | purani, mullilavu, Poolai | Imbul weva (Ilavankulam) Pulunkaduva (Poolaakkaadu) | |
| Borassus flabellifer | Tal gaha | - | panai | - | |
| Boswellia serrata (Indian Olibanum tree) |
Salake, Galaba Gaha ?, Gajapriya | glabra, Shallaksi | vellai kunkiliyam, muraiyidam, muruntapali, Sambrani Maram | A deciduous, medium-sized tree with an ash-coloured, papery bark which peels off in
thin flakes; young shoots and leaves pubescent ; leaves alternate, crowded at the ends
of branches.- The name Gajapriya is given in Clough's 1892 dictionary. The name
Shallaki is used in Indian preparations. Salake is claimed to be
the Sinhala name. According to Prof. S.P. Samarakoon, (Ruhuna University),
the name Salake is in the List of Vernacular names given in the Journal of Sri Lanka Forester. Preparations from this plant are used to relieve arthritic joint-pain and other inflammation related ailments. The bark is used to make a sweet tea, claimed to help in allergies (Asthma), sore throat etc. It produces a gum-resin similar to the "Dummmala" used as an incense in Sri Lanka. Clough gives the name Gugul for such gum-resins, in the context of Amyrus agallocha. See Images, write up and the use of Boswellia Serrata in Indian Medicine |
|
| Bougainvillaea spectabilis | Katurolu | - | kirusnakeli,kiruttinakeli | - | |
| -Brachiaria mutica | Diya Tana - | - | - | - | |
| Brassica alba (Spinache), see Basella Alba - | -Nivithi | - | - | - | |
| Brassica campestris | rapa | sarshapa- siddhartha | karuppukkadugu | - | |
| Brassica juncea (indian mustard) | Aba, kaluaba, gang-aba ගං අබ | - | katuku | used in Achcharu - | |
| Bridelia retusa (kino tree) | Kaetakaela, Katakela | ekavira- asana | adamarudu, mulvengai | -A small Tree with a smooth, pale yellowish-grey bark and rusty;
leaves simple, alternate, numerous. Bark has anti-fungal activity. | |
| Brugmansia suaveolens (Datura) | Aththana | - | - | see also Datura fastuosa | |
| Bruguiera cylindrica, B. sexangula (Mangrove) | Mal Kadol | - | - | - | |
| Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Mangrove) | Mal Kadol | - | - | - | |
| Buchanania lanzan | Morala | - | modamaram ? | A tree, 12 m (?) tall, with a straight trunk and young branches clothed with silky hairs; leaves simple, alternate entire, thickly coriaceous, ~12.5 cm long, ~6.2 cm broad, broadly oblong.- | |
| Butea frondosa | Pulas, Palas | Parasan | palacu, palasu, Murukku | Parasanweva, Pulasweva (Parasangkulam) | |
| Butea monosperma | Gas kela, Galkaela - | - | palacu | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Carallia Brachiata (Fresh water mangrove) | Davata, Dawata | - | - |
Place names like: Dawatagahamulatenna (Central province), dawatagolla, and Davatagama (Uva Province)
are found in Sri lanka. The bark has been valued as an anti-inflammatory, in wound healing etc. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences vol 71, no. 5, 576--577 (2009) - |
| Caesalpinia bonduc (gray Nickarbean, Fever nut) | Kumburu, Kumburu vael - | Latakaranjah- Putrakaranjah | kalarci, kazhar-shikkay - | A stout climbing shrub with finely grey pubescent stems and straight small prickles; leaves alternate, very large, compound, main branchis ~12.5 cm long, cylindrical, finely woolly-pubescent.- |
| Caesalpinia crista - | Diya-vavlaetiya, (Wavlatiya)- | - | - | See also goda-vavlaetiya |
| Caesalpinia enneaphyllum, Mezoneurum enneaphyllum - | Goda-vavlaetiya, (Goda Wavlatiya)- | - | - | Clough, 1892, p168 and Annales botanices systematicae, Volume 4 By Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers, p591 |
| Caesalpinia major - | Kalu Wavlatiya, Kalu Vavlaetiya - | - | kazarci kalichikai | An extensive climber with finely grey, downy branches armed with hooked and straight, hard, yellow prickles; leaves large, abruptly pinnate, 30\u201460 cm long, petiols prickly- |
| Caesalpinia sappan | Patangi - | - | - | A medium-sized tree 6' high with a prickly stem ~15cm diam-. |
| Cadaba indica (indian cadaba) | Ira vara, Ira Varaa | - | manatukkurntu, | Picture and
write up shrub with simple oblong leaves and greenish flowers
Actions and uses. Stimulant, antiscorbutic and aperient. Decoction of leaves of C. Indica is used as anthelmintic in round worms. The juice of C. Trifoliata is given in dyspepsia in children. Leaves are used as purgative, emmenagogue and antiph- logistic, combined with myrobalans and ginger, or with senna and Epsom salt. In amenorrhaea and dysmenorrhoea a decoction of the leaves, combined with castor- oil and turmeric, is found useful. It is also given in syphilis, scrofula and rheumatism. Externally the leaves are used as varalians with the leaves of odina wodier to relieve rheumatic pains, and as a poultice to boils to promote suppu- ration. The leaves are used by the natives in preparing medicated oils. - (source: Materia-medica of india) |
| Cajanus cajan | Thõra | adhaki | tuvarai | - |
| Calamus rotang | Heen wewel, heen vevael | vetra- vetasa | perambu, vaniram | - |
| Calamus roxburghii (cane, ratan) | wewel, vevael | - | - | - | Callicarpa tomentosa | Eela Gaha, Illa Malgaha | - | kattukkumil, vettilaipattai | - |
| Calophyllum bracteaum, Calophyllum walkeri | Keena | - | - | - |
| Calophyllum inophyllum (Alexandrian Laurel) | Domba | punnaga, Nag champa | punnai, pinnai, nagam | Place names:
Dombape (Punanai)
Dombatuva (Punanaitupe)
Dombape (Punnalai)
Dombakaduva (Punnalakadduvan) The sinhala name "Domba" is most probabaly a distortion of the Sanskrit "Champa" which is possibly used in Pali as well. According to the "lanka chronicle" write up: "The fruit has a hard shell and the kernel yields an oil which is used as a medicine for rheumatic pains and is also one of the five kinds of oil known as Pas-tel . In some parts of India the oil has a reputation as a cure for Scabies. The bark of the tree is used as an antiseptic; internally, preparations of the bark are used in cough.". The Domba latex is said to contain an anti-HIV agent (a coumarine). [see report by Sino, Dodier and Sotheesvaran, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, vol 8, 3475 (1988)] Hanna, L. "Calanolide A: A Natural Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor." Bulletin of Experimental Treatments for AIDS. April 1999. Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals, Inc. PRNewswire. February 5, 1998; September 30, 1998. Wilson, E.O. The Future of Life. Alfred A. Knopf. New York: 2002 See entry under Calophyllum Lanigerum. known (a Costatolide, or Calanolide B) Images and write up |
| Calophyllum Lanigerum - | "Domba" species | - | - | The plant is in the same family as "Domba" of Sri lanka, has strong similarities to "Domba", but it is not the same as the Domba plant which is Calophyllum inophyllum. This plant has leaves which are longer and more spear-shaped than "Domba". We have tentatively called it "Pithi Domba" The plant extract is claimed to contain an anti-HIV agent, calanolide A. Image, Calophyllum Lanigerum |
| Calophyllum tomentosum | Keena, Tel-Keena - | Bitangor(am) (indian name) | - | "Domba family" timber. Native to Sri lanka,
and red-listed as threatened. xanthenes and
tri-terpenes have been extracted from this trea components by
Peradeniya University Researchers, some of them being
our academic collegues.:
Subadra Karunanayake, Subramanian Sotheeswaran,
M. Uvais, S. Sultanbawaa and Sinnathamby Balasubramaniam Phytochemistry Volume 20, Issue 6, 1981, Pages 1303-1304 - |
| Calotropis gigantea (crown flower) | Wara, Vara | Sooryapathra, arka | erukku, erukkam | Some varieties attract Monarch butterflies. The name "Elawara" or "Ganarupa" is
also used. Used in Homeopathy. Photos |
| Calotropis procera | Vaeli Wara? | - | vellai erukku | - |
| Camellia sinensis, China tea | The, තේ | - | thayilai | - |
| Canarium zeylanicum, Aleurites triloba (candle nut tree) | Kekuna, Kaekuna, kakuna | - | Pakkilipal- | The name is recorded in Clough, 1892, p 139. There is a sinhala saying: "Val oouro kaekuna thalana vita haban kukulanta magul" A very large tree, with a pale, smooth, thin bark, buttressed roots and densely fulvous pubescent young shoots. leaves pinnate compound, alternate, Leaflets 3 pairs and a terminal. The relationship of this tree to Canarium species in Madagascar, Andaman Ils and Mauritius has been discussed. See Canarium Madagascariense No images of C. zeylanicum are currently available. For images of related species see Images This is an increasingly rare tree, and produces a gum-resin similar to "Dummala". The place names based on "Kaekuna" are, as far as we know, found only in the North-western province and southern province. Those in the North-Western province are: Kekunagahakotuwa, Kekunagolla, Kekunawala, Kekunewa Those in the Southern province are: Kekanadura, Kekunawela, Kekunawila However, the tree has been recorded in other areas including the Matale district. |
| Canavalia obtusifolia | Mooduvara | - | - | - |
| Canna indica (canna lilly, Indian shot) | Buth Sarana, "caennas" | - | kalvalai | - |
| Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) | Ganja, Kansa | ganjika- bhanga | kanja, kanca | Psychedelic drug which became well known after the "hippie" movement of the 1960s; this is described as "Triloka Vijayam" in Sanskrit texts. Ganja is included in some traditional herbal prescriptions. The active ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. The US La Guardia report in the 1970s was the first to propose decriminalization of the personal use of Cannabis. The first discussion of this in Sri Lanka was sponsored by the Institute of Chemistry, in 1973 with Dr. Ramakrishna (chair), Dr. Kottagoda (Pharamacology), Dr. Chandrasoma (Psychiatry), Dr. Dharmawardana (Chemistry), and the Government Analyst (Mr. Nithkunanathan) as panelists. Dr. Kottagoda and Dr. Chandrasoma took a strongly anti Cannabis point of view, while Dr. Dharmawardana argued that tobacco is a far greater public menace ignored by the authorities who put in much effort trying to control Cannabis, while profiting from tobacco sales. A "vedamahaththya" who was in the audience strongly pitched for its decriminalization for medical use. Two Cannabis plants (resembling "daas mal gas") were provided by the police (wth the help of Mr. Rajapaksa, the then member of Parliament for Hambantota) for demonstration purposes. Raid on a Cannabis Plantation |
| Capparis horida, Capparis moonii,Capparia moonii, Capparia zeylanica | Wellangiriya, Vellangiriya | - | turatti | A climbing shrub with long, divaricate branches, leaves simple, alternate, oval-lanceolate or oblong, 4. 2- 5 cm long. - |
| Capparis zeylanica (Ceylon capper) | Welangiriya | Vyaghranakhi, kinkani, tapasapriya | adondai atontai | Large shrub, 2-5 m high, showy flowers. Image and description - |
| Capsicum annuum | Malumiris | katuvira- pittakarini | milakai | - |
| Capsicum frutescenes (chili pepper, Thai pepper) | Miris | - | milagai | Miriswatte, Mirisa-vaetiya, Mirrissa are known place names. Mirisa Vaetiya is
an important Anuradhapura Shrine mentioned in the Mahavamsa. Miris is an essential part of Sri Lankan cooking, and the main ingredient of "Lunimiris". It is also used in preparations and sprays for riot control. Miris extracts are found to be protective against stomach ulcers (based on experiments on rats, with ulcers induced by aspirin.) The following report is found on the Internet: The dried fruit is a powerful local stimulant with no narcotic effect, it is most useful in atoning the intestines and stomach[4]. It has proved efficacious in dilating blood vessels and thus relieving chronic congestion of people addicted to drink[4]. It is sometimes used as a tonic and is said to be unequalled in warding off disease[4] (probably due to the high vitamin C content[K]). Some caution should be employed, however, since large doses are extremely irritating to the gastro-intestinal system[268]. Used externally, the fruit is a strong rubefacient stimulating the circulation, aiding the removal of waste products and increasing the flow of nutrients to the tissues[254]. It is applied as a cataplasm or liniment[4]. It has also been powdered and placed inside socks as a traditional remedy for those prone to cold feet[254]. A weak infusion can be used as a gargle to treat throat complaints[268]. The fruit is also antihaemorrhoidal, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, sialagogue and stomachic[7, 165, 171]. These pungent fruited peppers are important in the tropics as gastrointestinal detoxifiers and food preservatives[238]. The fruits contain 0.1 - 1.5% capsaicin[254]. This substance stimulates the circulation and alters temperature regulation. Applied to the skin it desensitizes nerve endings and so has been used as a local anaesthetic[254]. The seed contains capsicidins[254]. These are thought to have antibiotic properties[254] click for full report |
| Carallia calycina | Ubberiya | - | - | - |
| Cardiospermum halicacabum, C microcarpum | Wel Penela, Vael Penela | jyotismati- indravalli | kottavan, mutakkarran | Medical uses as a tisane- |
| Careya arborea | Kahata - | - | kumbi | - |
| Carica papaya (Papaya, Papaw) | Paepol, Gaslabu | erandakarkati- madhukarkati | pappayi, pappali | This tree has male and female plants, and may grow to 6-8 meters in
tropical well watered slightly acidic soils. Its leaf and milky latex contains
Papain, an enzyme which breaks down meat. Hence papaya leaves are used to
tenderize meat. Using papaya leaf in salads is said to
help heart-burn, and indigestion, against worms, herpes, prostrate inflammation.
It is included in commercial preparations as a meat tenderizer and often used for that purpose in restaurants, and it also used commercially in chewing gums and as a stabilizing agent that is used to clarify beer. Papaya Leaves were even fed to animals to tenderize their flesh. The Papaya Leaf contains the fermenting agent myrosin, alkaloids, rutin, resin, tannins, carpaine, dehydrocarpaines, pseudocarpaine, flavonols, benzylglucosinolate, linalool, malic Acid see details, methyl salicylate, another enzyme, chymopapain (latex and exudate), calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, Zinc beta-carotene, B-vitamins and vitamins A, C and E. However, the papaya seeds have not yet been adequately researched. Papaya juie has been used in the Philippines for various types of viral fever including Dengu. The juice from crushed Payaya-leaf has been claimed to normalizes blood platelet in Dengue patients in Sri Lanka. see also for other claimed herbal cures for Dengu fever. It has also been claimed as an anti-cancer agent. anti-cancer claims Sunday Observer 25-July2010 report of clinical trial with controls |
| Carissa carandas | Karanda, Maha Karamba | karamardaka- | kila, kala | A small tree or a large shrub, with numerous, divaricate branches and vcry sharp horizontal spines, often branched .- |
| Carissa spinarum (Conksberry or Bush plum) | Karamba,Heen karamba | karamarda | chirukila, sirukila |
Karambavila (Siruvilan)
Karambapona (Karampon)
Karambapitiya (Siruppiddy) Images and write up "The Heen karamba ( Carissa spinarum ) is a shrub found typically in undergrowth in secondary forest in the dry zone and is a plant with multiple uses. It has jasmine like white flowers, edible fruits, and the oil extracted from the leaves is used for wounds and for relieving skin irritations such as itchiness. A fence made from the branches of this shrub are said to be a deterrent even to an elephant." Heen karamaba write up, national herbarium, The herberium website was established in 2004 |
| Carmona microphylla - | Heen Tambala - | - | - | A shrub, l-1.3 rn tall with numerous, slender, divaricate branches with a reddish >brown - cracked bark leaves simple, small. ~0.7 cm long, ~0.6 cm broad.- |
| Carum Ajowan | Assamodagam- | - | Amam | - |
| Caryota urens | Kithul, Kitul, කිතුල් | mada- sritalah | kuntarpanai, talippanai | The Kithul tree is celbrated for the syrup (Kithul Paeni,
කිතුල් ;පැනි) or
"treacle" produced
from its sugary sap. Kithul Paeni is the preferred accompaniment of
of the dessert of the Sinhala South - Buffalo curd and Kithul Paeni.
The jaggery (Kithul Hakuru) made from Kithul paeni is preferred over that from
the coconut palm (Pol Hakuru). A flour made from the pith of the
tree is also well known, esp. in the Kandyan area, where a pan
cake ("roti", ;රොටි), a gruel ("thalapa",
තලප ) containing Kitul flour, and coconut,
are consumed. A sweet gruel is also made. A "vatalappam-like" sweet
is also made with Kitul piti (kitul flour), jaggery etc.
The fiber is used to make
a very strong rope. The timber is used as rafters etc. Alexander von Humbolt wrote ("Travels in the equinoctial regions of America) in 1853 that: "The nutritious fecula or medullary flour of the sago trees (Sagus Rumphii) is found principally in a group of palms which M. Knuth has distinguished by the name of Calameae. It is collected, however, in the Indian Archipelago, as an article of trade, from the trunks of the Cycas revoluta, the Phoenix farinifera, the Coryphen umbruculifera, and the Caryota urens (Ainslie, Materia medica of Hindustan, Madras, 1813 )". Kitul Industry in Sri Lanka The gycymic index of Kithul food-preparations has been studied at Sri-jp university, Sri Lanka. Glycimic index It is a tall unarmed palm, trunk ~13m tall and ~0.3m diam., cylindrical, annulate, not soboliferous, flowering when full grown from axils of leaves beginning with the upper and thence successively downward, a male and female spadix alternating and then dying.- |
| Casearia zeylanica - | Wal Waraka, Val varaka - | - | - | - |
| Cassia alata, also Cassia didymobotrya | Eth Thora, Aeth thora | - | - | A large shrub with very thick, finely downy branches; leaves large, subsessile, 30cm long, pinnate, leaflets 8-pairs, each 5 cm long.- |
| Cassia amara | Sinkona | - | - | - |
| Cassia angustifolia, see Cassia senna | Senehe Kola | - | - | A small shrub with stems 0.6 m high, erect, smooth pale green somewhat zigzag with long spreading branches.- |
| Cassia auriculata,Senna auriculata (Tanner's cassia) | Ranavara, Ranawara | avartaki- | avarai, avaram | A large, much branched shrub with smooth cinnamon brown bark and closely pubescent branchlets. Inportant in Ayurveda. Used as a herbal tea of medicinal value, mainly for urinary problems. Images and write up |
| Cassia fistula (Indian laburanam) | Aehaela, Ehela ඇහැල | aragvadha- | konrai, konnai, Mullaimaram | Placename Ehelapola
was the village of a rebellious Adigar (Chieften) of the Last king of Kandy who
gradually became a cruel tyrant. A small or moderate-sized tree with slender branches and pale grey bark when young, brown and rough when old; leaves alternate, stipulate, abruptly pinnate compound, large. The wood of Aehala is used to make temple drums, and Aehaela trees and flowers are an integral part of Sri lankan Buddhist culture, and in India. Image and write up |
| Cassia kleinii | Bim Siyambala, Bin Siyambala | - | - | - |
| Cassia obvata (neutral henna) | Seneha cola? | Hemapushpi- | - | In Ayurved, used to cure skin allergies, leprosy, fever, reducing phlegm and as a digestive aid. Used in removing black spots on skin. It is an anti-dandruff shampooing, or to make the hair shine. See also cassia angustifolia |
| Cassia occidentalis | Pani Thora - | - | peyavirai,ponnavirai | A coarse annual, 30\u201490 cm high, stem slightly branched. nearly glabrous, furrowed, purplish.- |
| Cassia roseus | Mini Mal | - | - | - |
| Cassia roxburghii | Wa | - | - | - |
| Cassia senna, see Cassia angustifolia | Seneha kola | - | nilavirai, Nilavagai, nilavakai ? | In Ayurveda, used to cure skin allergies, leprosy, fever, reducing phlegm and as a digestive aid. Used in removing black spots on skin. It is an anti-dandruff shampooing, or to make the hair shine. |
| Cassia siamea ( Kassod Tree ) | Wa | - | mancatkonrai - | Image |
| Cassia sophera | Uru Thora | - | - | ponnavirai- |
| Cassia surattensis (sunshine tree) | Wal Ehela, Val Aehala | - | - | Images of cassia - - |
| Cassia tora | Peti Thora | - | thagarai- | - |
| Cassine balae | Kabella, Kaebella | - | - | - |
| Catharanthus roseus | Minee Mal | - | - | - |
| Catunaregum spinosa | Kukurumanna, Kukurumaana | - | madukarei, pungarei | - |
| Cayratia pedata | Garandi- Dul-Vael, Madiya Wael | pedata | tiripatakam, kattuperandai, kitamatti | - |
| Ceasalpinia longana | Monara Pila | - | - | - |
| Ceiba pentandra | Imbul, Kotta | - | ilavu | See also Bombax Ceiba; Produces a cotton-like fiber in its pods. The tree is called "white cotton" in English. Also,"Kapok". A tall tree with a smooth, greenish-white, glabrous bark and horizontal primary branches in whorls of three ; leaves alternate, digitate or palmate, closely placed on long petioles leaflets 5 or 7 on short winged stalks.- |
| Celastrus paniculatus, Celastrus panicuhtus (oriental staff vine) | Duhudu- | Jayothismati- | vaaluluvai | A cold-pressed herbal oil and "choorna" are made from the seeds. Supposed to enhance memory. The plant has been recently found in the Mahiyangana area. Daily News reprot There is some scientific evidence in support of these claims: Godkar et al: Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 93, Issues 2-3, August 2004, Pages 213-219 |
| Celtis cinnamomea | Gurenda | - | - | - |
| Celosia argentea (Cock's comb species) | Kiri-haenda, kirihenda | - | pannai keerai, makili-k-kirai | garden herb, ornamental, showy flowers |
| Celosia cristata (Cock's comb) | Kukul karamal | - | pannai keerai | Edible, ornamental. |
| Celtis timorensis (Nettle tree, sugarberry, hackberry) | Brunda ?Burunda? | - | - | C. timonensis is endemic to Sri lanka. No image of this plant is available. Images of other Celtis species |
| Centella asiatica, Hydrocotyle asiatica (indian Pennywort) | Gotukola | mandukaparni, Brahmi- | parni, vallarai, | Green herb, eaten as fresh slad, cooked salad (Maellung), and in broth (Kola Kaenda) in Sri Lanka, where it is also a valued herbal medicine - general tonic. Ayurvedic preparations are available as oil, tablet, herbal tea etc. Leaves contain an oleaginous substance, vellarin, having a strong odor recalling that of the plant, and a bitter, pungent, and persistent taste. (J. Phm. Chem; 1885, 49.) |
| Centipeda minima | Visa Dooli | - | - | A small, annual herb with numerous, prostrate, slender, branching stems ~5cm long, spreading from the centre; leaves simple, alternate, subsessile.- |
| Centranthera indica, Centratherum indica | Dutu Saputa | Undir Karni | kovai ?- | Image and write up |
| Cerbera manghas, Cerbera odoloam | Kaduru | auddalakah- | - | - |
| Ceriops tagal (mangrove like) | Rathu Kadol | - | Chirukandal | - |
| Ceropgia candelabrum | Wel Mota, Vael Mota | - | - | - | /timore
| Chssia roxburghii | Wa Malgaha | - | - | - |
| Chloroxylon swietenia | Handun | bhillotaka- | varimarai | - |
| Chloroxylon swietenia | Sandun | Chandana | vaimari | Chandana (Chankanai) Sinhala saying "Handun vaneth urulaevo aethi", i.e., there are civet-cats even in a sandle-wood forest. |
| Chrysophyllum | LaaOlu | - | - | - |
| Chukrasia tabularis, Chukrasia velutina | Hulan-hik, Ull-hik | - | agil, Aayili, Malaivempu | - |
| Cicer arietinum (chick-pea, gram) | Kadala, Chanaka (Clough, p179) | - | Kondai-Kadalai, Kothu kadalai | -Important legume crop of the ancient world and modern vegetarian diets. Double cropping of chickpeas with short duration rice has been found to yield higher returns. However, Sri lanka depends on imports for its supply of Chick-peas. The etymology of the word "Kadala" is unclear, as it is used as a generic word in South India. In sinhala, kadala could mean "pebble-like" and may be a description of the pea. However, it is most likely adopted from the Malayalam Kadala. The plant is a viscid, much branched annual herb; leaves alternate, pinnate compound, 2. 5 cm long with usually a terminal leaflet, leaflets about 6 mm long, ovate-oblong to obvate, deeply toothed and strongly veined. "Parippu" (Parauppu in tamil) is another generic word, used for lentils (Dahl), and also for "Thora-parippu", Pigen-pea (Cajanus cajan) |
| Cinamomum iteodaphne | Kalu Nika ? | - | - | - |
| Cinnamomum camphora | Kapuru - | - | karppuram | There is a sinhala saying "Kapuru daevoo thaena alu naethilu", i.e., there said to be no ash where Camphor is burnt". |
| Cinnamomum dubium, Cinnamomum verum | Kurundu | - | - | - |
| Cinnamomum litseafolium | Kuda Kurundu | - | - | - |
| Cinnamomum zeylanicum | Kurundu, Val Kurundu | Twale, Tvak | Karuva, ilavankappattai | Kurundugolla (Karuvaachchoalai) Kurundukaenna (Karuvaakkeani) Kurundu watta (Karuvakaadu) Kurundanvaeva (Kurundankulama) |
| Cipadessa baccifera | Halbembiya - | - | savattuchedi | - |
| Cissampelos pareira (Midwives' herb) | Diyamiththa - | patha, Ambasthaki | appatta, ponmucuttai | A small woody twiner with straggling branches, young shoots whip-like and pubescent;leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, entire, small, 3.8𠅆.3 cm long, ovate-orbicular or reniform-orbicular.- Used in child birth in south-America. It is mainly used for digestive and anti-inflammatory uses in India. |
| Cissus latifolia | Wal Diya Labu | - | - | - |
| Cissus quadrangularis (Veldt Grape or Devil's Backbone) | Heeressa | asthisamharaka - | pirantai, perandai - | Orbnamental plant in the west. Herbal medicine in South Asia for to heal bone fractures (as an external poultice); cooked leaves or burnt ashes are used for obesity and weight loss, diabetes, metabolic imbalance etc. |
| Citrullus colocynthis | Yak Komadu - | - | varagamothankodi | - |
| Citrus aurantifolia, C. limon, C. Acida | Dehi | jambira ? | elumiccai | - |
| Citrus aurantium | Ambul Dodang, Aembul Dodang | - | - | - |
| Citrus crenatifolia | Naran, Naaran | - | - | Naranthanna (Naranthanai) |
| Citrus grandis | Embul Dodam, Aembul Dodang | - | - | - |
| Citrus madurensis (Musk lime, calamondin ) | Nas Naran, Nas Naaran | - | - | - |
| Citrus medica | Sidaran | - | campiram - | - |
| Citrus limon | Dehi | jambira | elumichai | - |
| Citrus nobilis | Jamba naran | - | - | - |
| Citrus reticulata (Tangarines) | Heen Naran, Heen Naaran | - | - | - |
| Citrus sinensis | Pani Dodang | - | - | - |
| Clausena indica | MeeGon Karapinccha | - | - | - |
| Cleidion javanicum | Okuru | - | - | - |
| Cleistanthus collinus | Madara - | - | oduppai, odugu | A small tree with a corky, pistillate, reddish-grey bark and stout spreading branches;leaves simple, alternate, few, rather large.- |
| Cleistocalyx nervosum | Bata Damba | - | - | - |
| Clematis smilacifolia | Narawel, Naravael | - | - | According to the Lanka Chronical |
| Cleome viscosa | Ranmanissa, Walaba | - | naivelai | - |
| Clerodendrum inerme | Galinda, Boearende - | - | kuppi, | Varieties of Pinna (Clerodendrum) are used in herbal medicine |
|
| Clerodendrum infortunatum,Clerodendrum viscosum, Volkameria infortunata C. serratum (Hill Glory- Bower) | Pinna, Gas-Pinna, Kalupinna | bhandira | karukanni, Perugilai, vellaikkanni | 1-2 metere high shrub. Most plants with the"Pinna" name have
applications in traditional medicine.
Images and
write up.
see also Phytlgia, vol 61, p 186 for field-naturalist discussions.
Pinna leaves (Pinna kola) are used to wrap "Haelapa", a flat cake made of "Kurakkan"(Eleusine coracana). A Kandyan place name, "Pinnakaele", may or may not have originated from "Pinna thicket" in sinhala. A village legend says that there were two pretty sisters in a Kandyan village, one known as "Kalu Maenike", and the other "Rathu Maenike". The King fancied Rathu Manike and took her to the Palace, and Kalu Manike remained in the village, where Kalu maenike is reputed to have been asked: "Aei dha kalu pinnokele?" ඇයිද කලු පින් නොකලේ ? |
| Clerodendrum paniculatum | Rathu mal Pinna | - | - | - |
| Clerodendrum philippinum | Pinna | - | - | - |
| Clerodendrum serratum | Kanhendha, Kanhaendha | - | - | - |
| Clerodendrum phlomidis | Beheth Pinna- | - | talutalai, Taluddai | Shrub, up to 3 meters tall and common in Sri lanka. Used in Dashamoola Arishtaya medical preparation. Images and write up |
| Clitoria ternatea, Clijoria ternatae (Butterfly pea) | Katarolu, Katarodu | aparajita- | kakkanam, kakkattan | A perennial twining herb with long, cylindrical stems covered with scantily depressed hair; leaves
alternate, stipulate, imparipinnate compound.. Flowers mainly blue., sometimes
white et.
- Now used in ornamental
hanging baskets in the west. Its seeds, roots etc., used
in Ayurveda, as a vermicde, in pregnancy etc. |
| Clotalaria juncea | Andana Hiriya. Andana Heeriya | - | - | - |
| Coccinia grandis, Coccinia indica | Kowakka< /TD> | - | kovai, matupakku | - |
| Cochlospermum Gossipyum, Cochlospermum religiosum (Buttercup tree, golden silk cotton tree) | Kinihiriya, Ela-imbul | - | Kattupparutti, Tanaku konga | The flowers are used in temple offerings.- Images and write up |
| Cocos nucifera, coconut | pol, Pol, Thambili | Naarikela,Nāḷikerika, Narikela | Thennnai, Ila | The origin of the word "Pol" has been extensively debated.
Hettiarachchi (1960s, Preadeniya University) had suggested an austro-nesian origin. Mahdi (Mahdi, W. 1998. Linguistic data on transmission of Southeast Asian cultigens to India and Sri Lanka. Archaeology and Language II. R.M. Blench and M. Spriggs (eds.) 390-415. London: Routledge.1998:396 ) argues that the coconut was carried to Sri Lanka and India prior to the 2nd century BCE; it occurs at Arikamedu in a Roman horizon. Tamil taakkinay can mean a fruit of the south, presumably referring to a Sri Lankan origin. Hence, Sri Lanka may have has the trea long before India. South Dravidian (loaned into Indo-Aryan) has an elaborate vocabulary referring to dried coconut (C.F., English word copra). Sanskrit narikela might be a composite of the two Austronesian words for coconut, nyiur and kelapa, or at least incorporate elements from these roots. By the 5th century the coconut was known to the Greeks, as the term argellia (i.e., narikela) appears in the writings of Cosmas Indicopleustes. Coconut water and its Medicinal value by Prof. A. Dissanayake Tapping Palm Trees - Indian Tradition A tapping technique is as follows. The inflorescence is bruised in its particular stage of growth through beating and crushing it with wooden tongs. Then it is bound into "torches" and tapped by cutting off the bandaged tips (Redhead 1989). A mallet is used for slowly hitting several minutes a day the trunk beneath and above the stem of the inflorescence while swinging it and finally pinching it before incision. A new incision is made after every collection (Friedberg 1977). The method described by Crevost and Lemarié (1913) for Arenga pinnata is also practised on Borassus flabellifer. In order to slow down the fermentation of the sap, the vessels are smoked and coated with lime (Redhead 1989). Bark or leaves from different species are also used: Schleichera oleosa bark or leaves (Friedberg 1977; Kovoor 1983), Shorea cochinchinensis bark in Cambodia (Crevost and Lemarié 1913; Kovoor 1983), Shorea obtusa in Burma, Shorea talura in Thailand (Lubeigt 1977), Votica hermandiana bark (Magalon 1930), Launaea coromandelica dried bark, Anacardium occidentale leaves (Kovoor 1983), Vateria acuminta bark or Cyminosma pedunculata (Dissanayake 1986). |
| Cochlosermum gossypium, cochospermum gossypium. | Kinihiriya, wael kinihitiya | - | - | - |
| Coffea arabica | Kopi | - | kappi, kapikottai | - |
| Coleus amboinicus (Cuban Oregano) | Kapparawalliya, Kapparavalliya | karpuravalli- | muttainari | Picture - nettle family |
| Coleus forskohlii, Plectranthus barbatus, Coleus barbatus, Coleus aromaticus (False Boldo) | Val seneha kola, Maagandi?, Kapparawalliya,? | Makandi | Karpooravalli (Karpuravalli), Pashanbheda | A plant of the nettle-lavender-Mint family, light-blue flower,
known to Ayurveda, for use in Asthma, blood pressure etc. It grows in the
dry hilly parts of Sri lanka,
Coleus in Sri lanka .
It has a slight camphot-like smell.
Modern rediscovery (1970s) and
commercilization is as a fat loss medication, e.g., from companies
in USA, Europe and also India (Hoechst Marion Roussel Limited, etc).
In our view the research is
is reltively poorely established.
The plant and root extracts contain the terpene-alkaloid forskolin,
which is claimed to
affect variety of important cellular functions, including inhibiting
histamine release, relaxing muscles, increasing thyroid function,
and increasing fat-burning activity. Selective breeding to increase
forskolin has been successful.
Its mechanism is
claimed to be enzymatic, via cyclic Adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), to
modify the fat metabolism of the body. Beware of possible long term bad
side effects.
Claims
for use as a "fat burner" Images
Coleus plants have also been reclassified as "Solenostemon", and are well kinown in horticulture as some varieties have coloured "rainbow foliage" (known as Villooda kola in sinhala). horticulture Weight-Loss scams |
| Coleus rotundifolius (Madagascar potato) | Jaavaala ? | - | - | Edible coleus horticulture |
| Colocasia esculenta | Gahala - | - | cempu, pantaki | - |
| Connarus monocarpus | Radaliya | - | - | -Description See:Medicinal plants: traditional knowledge By Pravin Chandra Trivedi (I. K. International (Pvt) India). |
| Corallocarpus epigaea | Gopalanga | - | aakaasagarudan | A perennial, tendril climber with a large, turnip-shaped root and succulent, zig-zag, glabrous and glaucous stems.- |
| Corchorus capsularis (jute white) | Go~ni, ගෝනි | Nadika - | piratti-kirai, naruvalli | - |
| Corchorus olitorius (jute) | Go~ni- ගෝනි | - | sanal, perattikkirai | - |
| Cordia obliqua (Indian cherry) | Bahuvara | sukshmaphala- laghupichhila ? | naruvili, villi | Bahuvaramuraya (Kulamurippu) Bahuvara wewa (Naruvilikkulam), colder climets, prefers deep moist sandy loam soils. |
| Coriandrum sativum | Koththamalli | - | kottumalli | - |
| Corypha umbraculifera, (Talipot) | Talapath, (Puskola path) | Talapathra | talippanai, talappam | The leaves are used in traditional "pus-kola poth" writing. Puskola Poth See also Images after German text -scroll down |
| Coscinium fenestratum (tree tumaric, false Calumba) | Wenivael gaeta, Venivaelgata, Vaenivael gaeta, Baanvaelgaeta, Bang wel gata, | Daruharidra, Pitadaru | Maramanjal, Manjalkodi, Pasamantram, Imalam | The name venivael is also found in Marathi but not in Dravidian languages.
The name "Baan vael" seems to be specific to Sinhala. It is woody climber with a smooth bark, young shoots densely and finely yellow-tomentose; leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, large. This is a highly endangered species with a high commercial demand and hence should be a niche agricultural cash crop for an enterprising farmer. see Journal of Plant Sciences, vol. 3, p133-145 (2008) by K. V. Tushar et al. |
| Costus speciosus (crep Ginger) | Thebu, Thembhu | Kushta, kemuka- canda | kostam, kottam, Kudavam | The tree can grow ten feet tall. A paste of Costus, white sandalwood and dry ginger, made by grinding them down with human milk is claimed to relieve pain when applied externally on the forehead. Images and write up |
| Cotylelobium scabriusculum | Namendora, Namenddara | - | - | - |
| Couroupita guianensis | Sal | - | Naagalingam tree, Kunturukkam | Saalavanaya (Lavanai) Ambasaalava (Sempankundu) Saaliya weva |
| Crateva adansonii, Crataeva religiosa, Garlic-pear tree, temple plant) | Lunuwarana, Lunu varana, Lunuvarana | Varuna- | Marvilinga- | A small tree with a grey bark, much branched, the young twigs marked prominently with leaf scars;
leaves alternate, 3-foliate, deciduous, leaflets shortly stalked. Images and write up Used for treatment of kidney stones and urinary problems in traditional medicine. A typical preparation is described as follows, and claimed to be efficacious, although NO double-blind studies have been reported.: A very "efficacious" compound decoction in combination with an equally powerful lithontriptic remedy is composed of Tribulus Terrestris, Gokshura or Gokatu of the Sinhalese, and ginger, in equal quantities. Make a decoction and administer with the addition of Yavakshara (impure K |
| Crinum asiaticum (spider lilly, Grand crinum lilly) | Tholabo, තොලබෝ | nagadamani- sudarsana - | visha moongil | A large bulbous herb, about 90 cm tall with a bulb 5-10 cm diameter, narrowed into a neck, l5-30 cm long, clothed in old leaf sheaths; leaves simple. Caterpillar growth- Used as an emetic. The bulb is poisonous. Images and write up. |
| Crinum defixum | Heen Tholabo | - | - | - |
| Crinum zeylanicum | Goda Manel | - | - | - |
| Crotalaria juncea | Andana Hiriya- | - | kuttu | - |
| Crotalaria laburnifolia,Crotalaria verrucosa (bird flower) | Yak Beriya | - | - | -A large, much branched herb |
| Crotalaria pallida, Crotalaria spp | Andanagiriya | - | - | - |
| Crotalaria retusa, Croton laccifer | Kappetiya | - | kilukiluppai | - |
| Croton tiglium (purging croton) | Japala, Jayapala - | Dantibija, Tintidiphala, Dravanthi, Jeyphala- | nervalam, nagandi | Seeds are a powerful purge. Plant used in Homeopathic and Ayurveda medicine.- |
| Croton caudatus, Croton aromaticum | Wel kappetiya, Vael Kaeppetiya | - | - | - |
| Croton megalocarpus (Croton) Image of Croton Megalocarpus |
krotan-gaha | - | - | Codiaeum Variegatum pictum is the more popular ornamental plant. Image and write up. Croton megalocarpus has become a more attractive candidate than Jatropha ( a variety of Endaru) as a source of Bio-diesel. See German-Kenyan study |
| Cryptocarya membranacea | Thavvaenna | - | - | - |
| Cryptocoryne walkeri Schott | Yatiudala (?) | - | Athiudayan - | Well known aquarium plant originating in Sri lanka. Images and description |
| Cryptolepis buchananii | Kalukohola ?Vael Rukaththana ? | Krishnasarva, karanta | palkoti, Gopavalli, Maddankodi | Kalukolladoova (Karungkodith-theevu) | Cucumis melo, Cucumis callosus | Kaekiri, kekiri, Gon Kekiri | Karkati | vellarikkay | Kakirimaduwa (Kachchilamadu) A kind of Kekiri is known as "Gaja-danthapala", p 150 of Clough's Dictionary, 1892. |
| Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) | Pipingna | trapusha- | vellarikkay, vellari | "Gandira" is also a kind of cucumber known in rural Sri lanka. |
| Cucurbita maxima | Wattakka, Watakka, Wattaka, Vattakka | gudayogaphala- dangari | carkkaraipparanki, paranki | - |
| Cullenia rosayroana | Wal Durian, Katamoda | - | - | - |
| Cuminum cyminum | Sooduru - | - | shiragam, cirakam | - |
| Curculigo orchioides | Bin Thal, Heen Bim-thal | - | nilappanai, kuratti | - |
| Curcuma aromatica | Wal Kaha, VadaKaha | - | katturi mancal, kasturi-manjal | - |
| Curcuma domestica | Kaha | - | - | see Curcuma longa below. |
| Curcuma longa (Tumeric) | Kaha, Ath kaha, Mim Kaha | Haridra,- | mancal, Manjal | Important condiment, spice and medicinal material in India and Sri Lanka. Believed to reduce uric acid levels in the blood, reducing gout symptoms. It is the main constituent of alternative-medicine treatments for Gout, arthritis. Ant-cancer effects have been claimed. It contains a di-ketone which can exist in a enol-form. A chain of nine conjugated carbon atoms linking two benzene rings explains the yellow colour of tumaric. Wiki article Tamil Nadu has the higest world production of Tumaric. - |
| Curcuma zedoaria (white tumaric, zedoary root, Red Leaf Spice Ginger ) | Haran kaha | karchura - | Poolakilangu ?- | Images and description |
| Cuscuta reflexa | agamula neti vela, aga mula naeti vaela, Gaskuta | - | cuppiracaram- | A leafless, twining, parasitic annual with long branched, closely twining, succulent and brittle, glabrous, pale greenish yellow stems, sometimes dotted with red; leaves absent; flowers regular, bisexual, small, white, scented, on short, glabrous, curved. |
| Cyathula ceylanica | Bim karal heba | - | civappu nayuruvi, cirukatalati | - |
| Cycas circinalis | Madu | - | kamappu | - |
| Cyclea barmanni | Kehipiththan, Kaehipiththan | - | ponmucuttai ?- | - |
| Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) | Sera | bhutika- karenduka | karppurappul, vasanapulla | used in cooking, and in herbal medicine to reduce fever etc. Images and writeup |
| Cymbopogon confertiflorus | Mana, Maana | - | - | - |
| Cymbopogon nardus | Heen Pangiri | - | - | - |
| Cynometra iripa (wrinkled pot mangrove) | Opulu | - | Kadumpuli- | This small, slow growing tree only produces seeds in years of abundant rain. It can grow to 5 m tall- |
| Cyperus rotundus (nut grass, nut sedge) | Kalanduru, wammutu | - | muttakkacu, korai | " If the ground slopes to the west and if kalanduru grass (Cyperus
rotundus) grows there, then the site is suitable for the Sudra caste."
(Mayimataya). It is an "invasive weed".
The name vammmutu is mentioned in the medieval sinhala grammar book: Sidath sangara Ayurvedic medicine uses the plant for treating fever, digestive disorders, dysmenorrhea, wounds, bruises etc. |
| cyperus santonici. | Vel thuththiri, tuttiri | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Daemia extensa, Pergularia extensa | Meda-hangu, | - | uttamani | Used as an ematic and expectorant. However, all plant parts, especially the seeds and latex, are often poisonous. They contain various alkaloids and glycosides, many of which are used in medicine and as insecticides. Images |
| Datura fastuosa | Attana, Thunbo Aththana | dhattura | adukkumattai | - |
| Datura metel (Devil's trumpet) | Attana, Sudu Attana, ela attana | sveta-dhaturah | vellaiyumattai,Ayigam | Contains atropine and related alkaloids. Hallucinatory drug, very poisonous.- |
| Dendrobium | Parevi mal | - | - | - |
| Dendrobium maccarthiae | Vesak mal | - | - | - |
| Dendrophthoe falcata | Ehatu Mal- | - | pulluruvi | - |
| Derris indica, Millettia pinnata , Pongamia pinnata (Indian Beech Tree) | Mal karanda ? | Naktamaala | pungam, Pungai | Images and write up 1
Images and write up 2 Could this have been the ancient "Puvangu tree", now usually identified as Aglaia roxburghiana ? |
| Derris canarensis, deriss skandens, Derris parviflora, Brachypterum elegans, Deguelia parviflora, Pterocarpus Parviflorus (Hog creeper) | Diya Kala Wel, Diyakala Vael, Sudu Kala Vael | - | kotippunku | The kalu Kala vael and sudu Kala vael are two
varieties. The name Derris scandens probably means "leathe-covered (pods) and sprawling". Derris parviflora is a woody climber growing up to around ten meters on the tree- Image |
| Desmodium gangeticum | Sulvaenna, Undupiyaliya | - | pulladi | A slender under-shrub, with cylindrical, nearly glabrous stems and hairy young parts; leaves alternate, stipulate. Used in the herbal medicinal tonic Dashamoola aristaya - |
| Desmodium gyrans | Pranajeewa, Praanajeeva | - | - | - |
| Desmodium heterocarpon | Undupialli, Maha undupiyali | - | pullati | - |
| Desmodium triflorum | Undupialli, Heen undupialli | - | -- | -A very small perennial herb, 15-45 cm long with numerous, long,, slender, prostrate branches rooting at nodes, clothed with white spreading hairs; leaves small, alternate, stipulate, trifoliate.- |
| Dialium ovoideum | Gal Siyambala | - | - | -- |
| Dichrostachys cinerea | Andara | Bahuvaraka, Virtaru | vitattalai, vedathalam | Andaradoova (Vidataltivu) Andaravala (Vidatalpalai) | Dillenia indica | Hondapara, Wampara | Ruvya | uva | A moderate-sized, round-headed tree with a cinnamon-brown bark; leaves very large, closely placed. |
| Dillenia retusa | Goda Para | - | - | - |
| Dimarphocalyx glabellus | Weli Wanna, Vaeli Vaenna | - | - | - |
| Dimocarpus longan | MORA | - | cempuvan, Murali, Nurai | - |
| Dimocarpus longan | Mora | - | Kaduppuvam, cempuvam | - |
| Diospyros atrata | Kalu Kenda | - | - | - |
| Diospyros attenuata, c.f, D.melanoxylon D. ebenaster (?) | Kadumberiya | - | - | - |
| Diospyros chaetocarpa, c.f., Diospyros oppositifolia | Kalu Madiriya | - | - | - |
| Diospyros ebenum | Kaluvara, Kaluwara | - | - | - |
| Diospyros melanoxylon D. ebenaster, Diospyros Melonoxylon (?) | Kaduberiya | - | karai- | Known as tendu patta in India, this is taxed by Maoist insugents in India to raise revenue. South asia intellience report |
| Diospyros malabarica, D. embryopteris, D. glutinosa | Timbiri, thinduka | - | thumbai | The tree exudes a glutinous substance used for caulking and sealing boats in the traditional way. It is not attacked by insects. The unripe fruit is rich in tannins and used for curing nets, leather etc. Clough's 19th century dictionary lists the name "Thinduka". |
| Diospyros oocarpa | Kalukadumberiya | - | vekurakalimaram | - |
| Diospyros oppositifoliya | Kalumediriya, Kalumaediriya | - | - | - |
| Diospyros Ovilfolia | KunuMaella | - | - | - |
| Diospyros quaesita D. hirsuta, (Calamander wood) | Kulu maediriya, kalu-medhiriya | - | - | - |
| Dipteracanthus ringens | Nil Puruk | - | - | - |
| Dipterocarpus glandulosus | Dorana | - | - | A large tree. about 55 m tall with a straight trunk, pale grey bark flaking off irregularly. |
| Dipteracarpus Zelanicus | Hora | - | Found in srilankan forests including Sinharaja. Rain-Forest in Ceylon, John R. Baker, Kew Gardens 1938 | Horagolla (Norachcholai) |
| Dodonaea viscosa | Eta Wararalla, Aeta Vaeralla- | - | virali | - |
| Dolichos biflorus (horse gram) | Kollu | - | Kollu paruppu, Kulad | An annual hairy herb with nearly erect stems and climbing branches; leaves compound. trifoliate, leaflets nearly equal, often lobed.- |
| Dovyalis hebecarpa (Ceylon Gooseberry) | Kitaembilla, Kithaembilla, Kitembilla, Ketembilla, | - | kocu vetti | Endemic to Sri Lanka. Horticulturists have created a thornless of of this gooseberry which is used in jellies and jams. Picture and write up |
| Drosera indica (sundew) | Kandulessa, kandulaessa | - | kocu vetti | ; Easily distinguished from the other species by its linear leaves. Image |
| Drosera peltata | Pethi-Kandulessa, Pethi-kandulaessa | - | kocu vetti | Insectivorus plant, ornamental Herb with flowering stems to 50 cm high. Leaves usually in a flat basal rosette and cauline- Charles Darwin drew attention to these plants in 1875 Link to Review article in J. Exptl Botany |
| Drymoglossum piloselloides (penny fern, Dragon scales) | Kasipethi, Kaasipethi | - | - | Grows on coconut tree trunks etc. it is one of the most common epiphytic ferns in the lowlands of Southeast Asia. Images and write up It is used in "Kaedum-Bindung"(Orthpedic) poultices in Sri Lanka. | Drypetes sepiaria | Veera, Wira, Weera | - | - |
Veeragolla (Veerancholai) "Gal Veera" is a fruit-plant endemic to Sri Lanka. |
| Dregea volubilis | Kiri Anguna | - | - | A very large, twining shrub with long, glabrous branches leaves simple, opposite. |
| Drsmos elegans, Dresmos elegans | Kudu Mirissa | - | - | - |
| Drymaria quercifolia | Benduru | - | - | - |
| Drypetes sepiaria | Weera, Veera | - | - | - |
| Durio zibethinus | Dooriyan | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Eichhornia crassipes ( Common Water Hyacinth) | Japan Jabara | - | Invasive water plant introduced to SL during world war II | - |
| Echinochloa crus-galli | Wel Maruk, Vael Maruk | - | - | - |
| Echites antidysentrica | Kelinda, Girimallika | - | - | P162 of Cough has an entry on tis plant. Used in local medicine. |
| Eclipta alba, Eclipta prostrata (False Daisy ) | Keekirindiya | Bhringaraja- | karippan, kaikeshi, karisalankanni | An erect or prostrate annual herb (weed), often rooting at nodes, with many diffuse reddish branches. There are blue, while and yellow flowering varieties. Used in Indian medicine (Bhringraj oil) used in "oil baths", and for dying hair when prepared with Nil-Aevariya(indigo); Indian Hair oils, herbs and health the leaf extract is claimed to be "a powerful liver tonic". |
| Entada pursaetha | Maha pus vael | - | - | Puswallava |
| Elaeocarpus montanus | Kok Mota | - | - | - |
| Elaeocarpus serratus | Weralu, Veralu | chiribilva- aravata | karai, ulankarai | - |
| Elaeocarpus garnitrus | Maha-mad(h)atiya, Rath-veralu | Rudraksha | - | Gurusiripura (Uruthirapuram) |
| Elaeocarpus subvillosus | Gal Veralu | - | - | - |
| Elephantopus scaber ( Prickly-Leaved Elephant's Foot) | Eth Adi, Aeth Adi | Gojivha- | anattuccivan, Anachuvady, anashovadi | Herb, 0.3m to 0.8 m high, hairy or rough - stem. Bluish-whitish flowers, about 6-9 mm long. Image and writeup |
| Elettaria cardamomum | Ensal, Enasal | - | elam, irrelam | See Knuckeles National wilderness by Gunatilake et al. |
| Elettaria cardamomum | - | - | cirrelam | - |
| Eleusine coracana (nutchee) | Kurakkan | rajika - | Iraaki, ragi, kelvaragu | Oora-kurahanan (Pantrichurichchan) |
| Eleusine indica | BaluTana, Kurakkan | - | kevuru | Dog grass |
| Embelia ribes (false black pepper) | -Walangasal, Valangasal, Vael aembilla | Krimighna, Tandula, Vidanga- | vayvilankam | Important ayurvedic plant, seeds etc. It is used against intestinal parasites and intestinal worms. It is used in abdominal disorders, skin fungal infections, flatulence, constipation, indigestion, headache, hemorrhoids, lung diseases, obesity, piles, pneumonia, mouth ulcers, toothache and sore throat. write up, image - |
| Embryopteris glutinifera | - | - | Thimbiriya (Thumpalai) | - |
| Emilia sonchifolia | Kadu Pahara | - | - | A perennial herb with prostrate or decumbent stems, becoming erect at the ends, much branched, glabrous and often rooting; leaves simple, alternate, sessile. |
| Entada phaseoloides | Maha Puswel, Maha Pusvael | - | - | An immense woody climber with a thick trunk and long twisted snake-like branches;leaves alternate, stipulate, bipinnate compound, large, main rachis 15-25 cm long, stiff and semi-woody ending in a bifid spiral tendril by which the plant climbs.- |
| Entada pusaetha | Pus Weal, Pusvael | - | - | - |
| Eriocaulon ceylanicum | Kok Mota | - | - | images |
| Eriodendron anfractuosum, E. orientale | Imbul, Pulun Imbul | Salmali | Illanku | Imbulgoda would be a typical toponym. Old saying " Yakada dachcha geyi imbul pulun koyinda? ,i.e., Would you expect to find Imbul-cotton in a house where even iron has been burnt out"? |
| Ervatamia divaricata | Wathusudda | - | - | A perennial shrub, ~1 m tall. |
| Eryngium foetidum (Long coriander,Culantro, cilantro-cimarron, saw-tooth coriander,, African coriander) | අඳු කොල Andu-kola Andu Kola | Piranga | - | Images and write up
This bi-annual herb is a culinary herb, being a constituent of
Mexican Salsa dip for Tortillas, and as a substitute for coriander leaves.
It rarely used in
Sri Lanka. It s a valuable potential export crop for Sri Lanka, being exploited
presently by Bangaladesh.
Some times it is incorrectly called "Andun-kola".
Acoording to Prof. Gerald Peiris, there is a reference to Ocimum gratissimum
in Somapala Wijewardenas's dictionary, stating that O. grat. is
Andu-kola. This is clearly incorrect.
The strong aroma (implied also by the Latin name "foetidum") is supposed
to repel sepents,
including cobras. This fact is enshrined in a Sinhalese saying "Nayaata Andu kola
pennuva vagei". However, no controlled experiments describing the reaction of
sepents to Andu-kola extracts are available.
The usage of the words Andu, Anduna
and interesting personal comments about Andu Kola, Cobras, and Temples, from some
of our correspondents are
stored here - click for more..
The plant is used in epilepsy. The coriander-like aroma is due to the presence of 2- dodecen-1-al (30-37%) and other essential oils. The essential oil of leaves of Eryngium foetidum from Bangladesh has been analyzed. (using gas-chromatographic mass-spectroscopy, Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 42(3), 347-352, 2007). Sixty three compounds have been identified with (E)-2-dodecenal (37.4 %), dodecanoic acid (10.7 %), trans-2-dodecanoic acid (9.7 %), (E)-2-tridecenal, (6.7 %), duraldehyde (5.1 %) and tetradecanal (4.4 %) as the major constituents. |
| Erythrina indica, Eritrina indica (Coral tree, Tiger claw) | Erabadu - | - | kaliyana murukkan, Mullu-murukku | The tree may grow to 80 feet.
Images and write up This is often called the "Indian coral tree" while the name Coral tree seems to be used generally for many species, e.g., Erythrina variegata (see below) found in Sri lanka and in many tropical islands. According to Ratnasooriya and Dharmasiri, "In contrast to what was reported for the Indian plant, the aqueous leaf extract of Sri Lankan Erythrina indica showed potent sedative activity but no analgesic effects, as claimed by Sri Lankan Ayurvedic physicians. Fititerpia Volume 70, Issue 3, p. 311-313 (1999) |
| Erythrina fusca | Katu Kela, Katu Kaela | - | - | -Native to Sri lanka. ornage flowers compared to the "erabadu" which is deeper. This plant also has medicinal applications. It is also a common shade tree, esp. in Cocoa plantations. Images-US sources Image and write up |
| Erythrina suberosa | Katu Erabadu - | - | velaikkaliyanamurukkam | - |
| Erythrina subumbrans | Erabadu එරබදු | paribhadra- | mullumurukku | Antibacterial percaptans have been found in plant extracts. Photos See also Erythrina Indica. |
| Erythrina variegata (coral tree) | Erabadu එරබදු | paribhadra- | mullumurukku | large tree with a thin, smooth, grey bark.
The more ornamental form of
Sri Lankan species is probably this. It has been proposed as a shade tree
in Tea plantations.
Beddage and
Mohotti's paper on shade trees for Tea
According to the "Lanka chronicle" the parts of the tree are important in traditional medicine.: "The juice of Erabadu leaves is applied to syphilitic buboes. The bark is febrifuge, its juice kills maggots in foul ulcers. Gaskela or Erabadu is astringent and is given in combination with other drugs in dysentery and diarrhoea. It is also used both as a lactogogue and an emmenagogue. It is an ingredient in many decoctions". |
| Erythroxylum monogynum | Devadaram, Devadaaram- | - | pittaru | - |
| Erythroxylum moonii | Bata Kirilla | - | - | - |
| Eugenia caryophyllaea (cloves) | Karabu Neti, Karaabu Naeti | - | kirampu,ilavankam | - |
| Eugenia farancia | Pini Jumbu | - | - | - |
| Eugenia jambos | Damba, Jambu | - | perunaval,sambunagai | - |
| Euphorbia antiquorum | Daluk - | - | kalli, caturakkalli | - |
| Euphorbia hirta (Asthma weed) | Bu-dada keeriya Boodath Keeriya Kapum Kiriya Kaepum Keeriya |
- | amman paccarici,cututuratticceti | Use as a cure for Dengu Fever in the Phillipenes, and Images of the plant; The latex of the plant is also used in Sri Lanka to treat cuts and bruises, and worts. However, there is some suspicion that the latex may be carcinogenic. According to one write up, "Asthma weed has traditionally been used in Asia to treat bronchitic asthma and laryngeal spasm, though in modern herbalism it is more used in the treatment of intestinal amoebic dysentery. It should not be used without expert guidance, however, since large doses cause gastro-intestinal irritation, nausea and vomiting." We are indebted to Ms. R. Kulatileke for some of the information reg. this plant. |
| Euphorbia indica | Ela-Dada Keeriya, Eladath Keeriya | - | - | - |
| Euphorbia neriifolia | Kola Patok | - | - | A large, glabrous, fleshy, erect shrub or small tree..8\u20144.5 m tall, branches round, somewhat verticillate with pairs of sharp stipular spines arising from low, conical, truncate, distant, spirally arranged tubercles. |
| Euphorbia spp | Pathok ? | - | Naka kalli | See Opuntia dilleni |
| Euphorbia tirucalli (Indian Tree Spurge) | Nava-handi, නවහන්දි Nava handi, Nava handhi, navahandi Nava sandhi | -vajradruma | kalli, kombukkalli | The Sinhala name indicates the zig-zag shape of the twig-like leaves. "Tirucalli" is a Malabar-Tamil Nadu name. This plant (3-5 meters, or even 10 meters exceptionally) is a well known ornamental plant and also grows wild in Sri lanka. Long before the present interest in Bio-fuels, bio-diesel, the US chemist Melvin Calvin proposed the use of its Latex for making gasoline. (See Handbook of Energy crops, by J. Duke, and there may be Brazilian patents by Petrobraz. An acre may yield up to 40 barrels of oil). The milk is astringent, corrosive and toxic. It has been used in herbal medicine. Images and write up |
| Evolvulus alsinoides | Vishnukranthi,Wisnukranthi | vishnugandhi- | vishnukarandi, visnukiranti | - |
| Exacum trinervium | Binara, Binnara | - | - | - |
| Exallage auricularia | Gata Kola, Gaeta Kola | - | - | - |
| Exacum trinervium | Binara | - | - | - | Exacum walkeri | Susu Binara | - | - | - |
| Excoecaria agallocha (Blinding Tree) | Thela | - | tillai, Thilla | Tillaiyadi in the Puttalam district. This is a mangrove with a poisonous milk |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Fagraea ceilanica, Fagraea Zeylanica (?) | Eta Muru, Aeta Muru | - | - | - |
| Feronia elephantum | Ali Divul | - | vilatti, vilamaram | - |
| Feronia limonia | Divul | dadhittha- kapittha | vila | - |
| Feronia limonia | Dimbul | - | norivila, Villati, Villan | KUDAA-DIMBULGALA (Kudumpimalai) DIVULMOTTE (Vilattimoddai) DIVULVAEVA (Vilattikulam) MAHADIULVAEVA (Periya-Vilankulam) |
| Ferula assa-foetida (Assafoetida) | Singu, Perungkaayam | (संस्कृतम्) Hingu | Perungayam | The sinhala usage `Perunkaayam'
is derived from the Malayalam. A Sanskrit derived
word is also
used, esp. in the Sinhala medical texts, sometimes in the form "singu",
It is a condiment and a medical ingredient. It is a pungently flavoured ("fetid" smell) material, obtained from the root. It is claimed to be an alternative, anthelmintic, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, carminative, deobstruent, deodorant, expectorant, laxative, sedative and stomachic. It is used in the treatment of digestive wind, bloating, indigestion and constipation, and for respiratory problems such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma and whooping cough. It is claimed to lower blood pressure. |
| Ficus arnottiana | Kaputu Bo | plaksha, nandi | Kalaal, Pulila | - |
| Ficus benghalensis | Nuga | -nyagrodha | alamaram, al | - | Ficus benghalensis | Nuga, Mahanuga | Vata | - | - | Ficus deltoidia (mistletoe fig)
Image and write up |
Kalaha | - | - | This is a small perennial herb, growing up to about 2m tall. The different shapes of the leaves represent different varieties some having a rounded shape and others having an elongated egg shape. The color at the top of the leaf is shining green while underneath, the surface color is golden yellow with black spots in between the leaf veins- It is used in Kaedum-Bindun (Orthopedic) medications in Sri lanka. It is also used in the beauty-industry medications in Malaysia. |
| Ficus fergusoni | Kos Gonna | - | - | - | Ficus gibbosa - Urticacece | Wal ehetu, Vael Aehaetu- | - | - | - |
| Ficus hispida | Kota Dimbul | - | peyatti, kattatti | - |
| Ficus lucescens | Kalaha | - | - | - |
| ficus oppositifolia | Kota Dimbula | - | - | - |
| Ficus racemosa | Aththikka, Attikka | sadaphala, udumbarah | atthi | The "fruit" seems to grow directly from the
trunk without the intermediary of a flower. However,
the Aththikka "fruit" is actually the flower. In fact,
it is a "false fruit" in which flowers and seeds grow together in a
single mass. The small opening visible at the top (ostiole)
enables a specialized wasp to enter and pollinate the flower
or pseudo fruit. The fig tree is referred to in Buddhist literature (e.g., The Guttila Jataka) and has an ancient history. An ancient anti-feminist sloka goes as: උදුම්බරං භවං පුශ්පං / ශ්වේත වර්නස්ස කාකදං මත්ස්ය පාදං ජලං අනිබ්බිසං / නාරි චිත්ත න්විස්සති That fruits of the fig come from flowers that there are are white crows that there are foot-marks of fish in the water that one can trust a woman's mind, are not be believed! We thank K. B. Hippola for this interesting sloka. |
| Ficus religiosa | Bo, Bodhi | Bodhi vruksha, asvattha, Bodhirukka (pali) | asvattam, arasu | - |
| Ficus sperata | Boo Daeliya | - | - | - |
| Ficus tinctoria | Val Aehaetu, Wal Ehetu | - | itti | - |
| Ficus tinctoria, Ficus tsiela | Ehetu | - | kallitti,irattiri | - |
| Ficus virens | Kadol ?, Kaputu Bo? | - | varaiyalmuram, Kalaal | Bogandara (Ittikkandal) |
| Filicium decipiens | Pihibiya | - | - | - |
| Flacourtia cataphracta, F. ramontchi | Rata Ugurassa, Ugurassa | - | - | - |
| Flacourtia indica, F. ramontchi, F.sepiaria, Gmelina indica, F. inermis (Governor's Plum, Indian Plum) | Lovi, Uguraessa | Shruvavrikksha, Aghori - | kurumulli, sottaikkala | Flacourtia is the name of a Governor of Madagascar. The leaves are used in pruritus and scabies. Fruits are tasty, sweet, digestive. Write up and Images - |
| Flueggea leucopyrus (Bushweed, Indian snowberry) Securinega leucopyrus, Phyllanthus leucopyrus (synonyms) |
Katupila | Bhuriphali, panduphali, shwetakambuja | Irubulai, varatpulaver, Mulluppulatti | Katupila is a scrubland thorny plant with white berries.
There is a Katupila Vaeva (Katupila Wewa) near Balangoda. The placename
Katupila Mankada (Latitude. 6.383°, Longitude. 81.517° on the Maenik Ganga,
(Menik Ganga)
and Katupila Ara are near by. A katupila forest is mentioned close to
Udawalawa, Embilipitiya. Katupillegala (Katupaelaellagala),
Katupaelaella tank, etc, are also found in the Uva, north of Katharagama,
on the B35 road, near the Weheragala reservoir. The variety known as Heen katupila has also been mentioned by Alexander Moon. [Flacourti-Icosandia, white berries] Cough's dictionary, p99, and also Bradt-Sri Lankan Wild Life, by Gehan de S. Wijeyeratne, refere to a species of katupila known as Maytenus Emarginata, while the Udawalawa national park write up gives Katupila as Secyrinega Leucopyrous. Furthermore, Tephrosia purpurea, i.e., Kathurupila has also been listed as Katupila in tourist write ups. So there is considerable confusion. 2008 SLAAS sessions had a discussion on Katupila: 646/E2 Characterization of Biological Activity of Flueggea leucopyrus Willd. (Katupila) B M M J Mendis, M D J Wijayabandara and S S S B D P Soysa, Dept. of Botany, Kelaniya University 19th August 2009 Lankadeepa Sinhala article claims (anecdotal) that concotions of its leaves help cure cancer. According to Indian reports: The plant is sweet, cooling, diuretic, aphrodisiac and tonic, and is useful in vitiated conditions of pitta, burning sensation, strangury, seminal weakness and general debility.The leaves act as a disinfectant and its paste is used by local people to extract any extraneous materials from body tissues without surgery. Write up and Images |
Fraxinus profunda | Rata Puhul | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Galutheria rudis | Wal Kapuru | - | - | - |
| Gaesalpiinia bonduc | Kumburu Wel, Kumburu Vael | - | - | - |
| Garcinia cambogia | Goraka | - | Kodakka | - |
| Garcinia mangostana | Mangoos, Maengus | - | - | - |
| Garcinia morella, Garcinia quaesita,Garcinia terpnophylla | Kokatiya, Gokatiya | kankustha- | makki, makkimaram | - |
| Garcinia xanthrochymus | Kolon, jamala | - | - | - |
| Gassipourea ceylanica | Peti Thora | - | - | - |
| Girardinia zeylanica | Gas Kahambiliya | - | - | - |
| Gisekia pharnacioides | Atthiripala, Aeth-iri-palaa | - | - | - |
| Glenica unijuga | Kuma | - | - | - |
| Gliricidia maulata | Ginihiriya | - | - | - |
| Gloriosa superba (glory Lilly) | Niyangala | agnisikha- langali | kalappaik-kilangu, kantal, Karthigai |
Place name: Niyagala veva (Niyankallikulam). Glorry Lilly is the "official" LTTE flower; it is also associated with Murugan, sacrificial love etc (Thanninyagam, X. S. Landscape and Poetry 1966). It has been used in Sinhalese areas also by broken-hearted rural lasses as a suicidal love portion. The Pali text society dictionary , p179, refers to the Karavila (Momordica charantia) flower under the word "Kantha" (c.f., Tamil Kantal), and its use as a wreath on criminals ready for execution. The Karawila flower is similar to the Niyangala flower. |
| Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (liquorice, licorice) | Vael Mee | Madhuka, Yashtimadhu (Hindi: Hindi Jethimadh) | Atimaduram, (Malayalam: Yashtimadhukam) | Important in chinese (Chinese: Kan tsau, Gancao) and Indian medicine.
It has been proposed even for H1N1-flu
Chinese herbal and swine flu
(see also article in the Hindu, Nov. 2009)
Images and details of licorice |
| Glycosmis angustifolia | Bolpana | - | - | - |
| Glycosmis pentaphylla | -Dodam pana | - | konchi, kattu-k-konci | - |
| Glycosmis pentaphylla | - | - | kattu-k-konci | - |
| Glycine max (Soya bean) | Boo Mae බෝ මෑ, Soya | Raja shimbi- | Source of vegetraian protein. Indian recepes with Soya - | |
| Gmelina arborea | Eth Demata etdemata, Aeth Demata | - | kumil, kumalan | This plant is component of Aristaya- |
| Gmelina asiatica | Demata | biddari- | kumil, nilakkumil | - |
| Goniothalamus gardneri | Kalu Kera | - | - | - |
| Gordonia ceylanica | Sudu Mihiriya | - | - | - |
| Gordonia speciosa | rath Mihiriya | - | - | - |
| Gossypum herbaceum | - | - | Kapu Pulun | |
| Grewia damine | Daminna, Daminiya | - | - | - |
| Grewia microcos | Kohu Kirilla | - | - | - |
| Grewia orientalis | Vael Kaeliya, Wel-keliya | - | Thuvattai- | - |
| Grewia polygama | Bora Daminiya, Bora Daminna | - | - | - |
| Grewia tilifolia | Damina, Daminaa, Daminiya | - | unnu- | - |
| Guettarda speciosca | Nil Pichcha | - | - | - |
| Gymnema lactiferum | Kuri-anguna | - | kurintai | Kurinchagama (Kurinchakemy) Kurinchapitiya (Kurinjanpitai) |
| Gymnema sylvestre | Masbedda, Kunngjan | - | kurintai, sirukurinjan | - |
| Gynandropsis gynandra | Vela, Vehela | - | velai,nal velai - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Haldina cordifolia | Kolon | - | Mannakatampu- | the incorrect name <>.Holdina cordifolia has crept into the internet. |
| Hedychium coronarium | Ela malgaha | - | cimaikkiccilikkilanku | - |
| Hedyotis nitida | Ul Weraniya, Ul Vaeraniya | - | - | - |
| Hedyotis pumila, oldenlandia crystallina | Wel-kawududala, Vel kavudu dala | - | - | - |
| Helianthus annuus | Sooriya Kaantha, | - | curiyakantam - | - |
| Helicteres isora | Lihiniya | - | valampurikkay - | this has been misnamed Helocteres isora in the internet. |
| Heliotropium indicum | Eth Hoda, Aeth Honda | - | tetkotukki, tenkitacceti - | - |
| Helleborus Niger (christmas rose, lenten rose) | KatuRohini | Katurohini, Kathurchini, Kadagarugani | - | Flowering plant (not related to roses), used as a laxative, and with a long history, referred to by the Greeks, in medeival witchcraft, and in Sanskrit literature. |
| Hemidesmus indicus (False Sarsaparilla) | Iramusu, Eramusu | sariva- | nannari, kirusnavalli, Ananadamulla | Iramuduweva (Ilamaruthankulam) It is a slender, laticiferous, twining, sometimes prostrate or semi-erect shrub. Roots are woody and aromatic. Used for skin diseases. It is used to make beverages. The plant is used as a tonic, alternative, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic and blood purifier. It is employed in nutritional disorders, syphilis, chronic rheumatism, gravel and other urinary diseases and skin affections. It is administered in the form of powder, infusion or decoction as syrup. It is also a component of several medicinal preparations Dried root contains p-methoxy salicylic aldehydes. See |
| Heptapleurum exaltatum, Hedara exaltatum | Goda-iththa | - | - | p 168 of Clough, 1892 |
| Heritiera littoralis | Ethuna | - | - | related to mangroves |
| Heteropogon contortus | Tana | - | ucippul | - |
| Hevea brasiliencis | Rubber | - | Irappar | - |
| Hibiscus cannabinus (Hemp, kenaf) | Hana - | Ambika,Sunishannaka, Sahasravatamulika - | kaccurai, Puliccha keerai, Gongura, Palungu | Fiber obtained from this plant is referred to in the
proverbial sinhalese term "hana-mitiya". A "hanamiti kaarya" is some one
who does not change and sticks to the outdated. Write up and images |
| Hibiscus esculentus | Bandakka | - | - | - |
| Hibiscus micranthus | Bebila, Baebila | - | - | - |
| Hibiscus rosa-sinensis | Pokuru Wada, Pokuru Wadamal | - | semparuthi | - |
| Hibiscus tiliaceus | Beli Patta | - | nirpparutti | - |
| Hieracium Pilosella (hawk weed, mouse ear) | Mee-kan palaa, mee kan pala | - | - |
Image
It is not native to Sri Lanka, as it requires a colder climate. Its roots secrete chemicals into the soil inhibiting growth of neighbouring plants (allelopathic plant). The sinhala name is probably derived from the English by local horticulturists. It has an active compound used in sunscreen lotions. The plant is also a potent diuretic. |
| Hippocratea macrantha | Diya Kirindi Wel, Diya Kirindi Vael | - | - | - |
| Hiptage benghalensis | Puwakgedi Vael, Vael Puvak | - | kurukkatti, madavi | - |
| Holarrhena mitis | Kiriwalla, Kirivaella | - | - | - |
| Holoptelea integrifolia | Goda Kirilla - | - | aya, aval | p 168 of Clough, 1892 |
| Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) | Barley | - | - | - |
| Hoya pauciflora | Heen Aramana | - | - | - |
| Hugonia mystax | Boo Gatiya | - | kodivirai | - |
| Humboldtia laurifolia | Gal karanda | - | - | Ants, wasps associated with this plant Krombein K et al, 1997. . Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 99(1): 42-49. |
| Hydnocarpus venenata | Makulla | - | - | - |
| Hydrocotyle asiatica, Cenrtella Asiatica (Indian Pennywort) | Gotukola | Brahmi,Mandukparni | babassa, Vallaarai (Vallarai), Vallarai elai. | Green herb, eaten as fresh slad, cooked salad (Maellung), and in broth (Kola Kaenda) in Sri Lanka, where it is also a valued herbal medicine - general tonic. Ayurvedic preparations are available as oil, tablet, herbal tea etc. Leaves contain an oleaginous substance, vellarin, having a strong odor recalling that of the plant, and a bitter, pungent, and persistent taste. (J. Phm. Chem; 1885, 49.) |
| Hydrolea zeylanica (Ceylon Hydrolea, Blue waterleaf) | Diya-mitta, Diyamiththa | Langali, - | Vellel, ponnankanic cakkalatti | Showy blue flower, aquatic. Write up and Images |
| Hydrocolyle javanica | Maha Gotukola | - | - | - |
| Hydrophylax maritima | Moodu-gaeta-kola, Moodu-gotukola | - | - | -- |
| Hygrophila auriculata, See Asteracantha longifolia | Ikiriya | - | nirmulii | - See Asteracantha longifolia |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Ichnocarpus frutescens | Kiri Wal, Kiri Vael | - | pal valli, paravalli | - |
| Ilex zeylanica | Andunwenna, Andun wenna, Andunvaenna | - | - | This is not related to Andu-kola This is a holy-like plant. We have no images to display. However, click here |
| Impatiens bijlora, Impatiens biflora | Vel Koodalu, Wel Kudalua | - | - | - |
| Impatiens cuspidata | Koodalu, Kudalua | - | - | - | Impetiens macrophylla | Gas Koodalu, Gas Kudalua | - | - | - |
| Impatiens repens | Galdemata | - | - | - |
| Imperata Cylindrica | Iluk | darbhah- | - | Ilukpitiya (Malayadi Kanda) Mahailukweva (Periyaulukulam) Illukweva (Ullukkulam) |
| Indigofera aspalathoides | Rat Kohomba - | - | kantari,civanar vempu | - |
| Indigofera enneaphylla | Bin Avari, Bim Aeveri | - | ceppu-neruncil | - |
| Indigofera suffruticosa, indigofera tinctoria (Anil, Indigo) |
Nil-aevariya, Nil Averia,Nil Awariya, Nil Aevariya | nilika, Nilambi- | cimai-nil,Neela Amari, avuri, Nili | Toponyms: AEVARIVATTA (Amarivayal) Indigofera Suffruticosa, as well as I. tinctoria are plants (pea family) giving an example of how a much-valued natural product (dye, obtained from pods etc.) becomes displaced by better sysnthetic products (modern dyes) which are colorfast, do not fade under light, cheaper to produce and less labour-intensive. Aniline (benzene with an NH Nil-aeveriya is still used, in combination with Keekirindiya (Eclipta alba) in hair-oils for produing "neelakesha", or blue hair, considered an attribute of beauty in South Asia. It has also been used as an anti-inflammatory anelgesic. Indigofera tinctoria, Image |
| Ipomoea aquatica ( Water Morning-Glory, Marsh-glory, swamp cabbage, water spinach) | Kankun කංකුන්, කංකුං, කන්කුන් |
kalambi, Karemu | Nalikam, vallikkoti, Sarkaraivalli | Etymology of the name is unclear; This is a valuable leafy vegetable used in South Asia. It is
a rich source of vitamins, amino acids
and anti-oxidants with many health benefits, .
Image and write-up
The humble Kankung of our villages |
| Ipomoea asarifolia, Ipomoea pes-caprae | Bim Tamburu,Bin Tamburu | - | Carkkaraivalli- | - |
| Ipomoea batatas (Sweet potato, yams) | Bathala | - | pavala- carkkaraivalli, | Not related to the potato family. Flowers similar to morning glory (ipomea family). Contains beta-carotene, vitamins etc, in addition to energy giving food-value |
| Ipomoea bona-nox, Ipomea Alba, Caloniction Bona-nox (Moonflower) | Chandrakaanthi- | Gulchandani- | nagamughatei | Mornign glory family |
| Ipomoea mauritania (Giant potato) | Kiribadu ala, Kiribadu, කිරිබදු | - | Palmudamgi, Nelli kumbalu | Images and write up It is used in sinhlala dmedicine in treating Tuberculosis. The sinhala name Kiribadu has been used in Indian Ayurvedic texts and claimed to be an aphrodisiac. |
| Ipomoea nil (morning glory) | Tel Kola, Thel Kola, Neelakuntha | Kalanjani. Krishnabeeja - | sirikki,kakkattan, Kotikkakkattan, Sirikki, Jigiri vidai | Blue to white ornamental flowers on slender bean-like creeper. Seeds are black or brown. Image and write up |
| Ipomoea obscura | Tel Kola | - | cirutali, kuruvilatcumi | - | Ipomoea pes-caprae | Bin-thambura | - | vilattaru, attukkal, ("adampu" has not been used for this plant)) |
Attampana (Adampana) |
| Ipomoea pes-tigridis | Divi adiya, Divi Pahauru | vyaghranakhi- | punaikkirai | - |
| Ipomoea tribula | Waha Thella, Vaha Thella | - | - | - |
| Ipsea speciosa | Nagameru Ala, NagaaMaeru Ala | - | - | - |
| Isatis indigotica (Chinese Woad, Dyer's-woad) | Mahanil aevariya, cheena aevariya | - | - | Contains the plant dye Indigo (Indican and isatin B), and native to China (chinese name: Da qing ye). antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory. Leaves and roots are effective against flu, encephalitis, measles, hepatitis, and mumps and claims have been made for use against H1N1-flu. |
| Ixora coccinea | Rat Mal | - | kullai,vetci | - |
| Ixora jucunda | Elarath Mal | - | kullai,vetci | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Jasminum angustifolium | Wal Pichcha, Val Samnpichcha, Saman pichcha | vanamalli- asphota | kattumullai, Nitykalyani ? | This flower, and Jasminum grandiflorum
play a central role in Buddhist and
Hindu temple floral offerings, garlands etc. A scandent semi-shrubby climber with glabrous stems but the twigs pubescent; leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, very variable on the same plant. |
| Jasminum grandiflorum | Saman Pichcha, Pichcha | - | picci | Buddhist and Hindu temples use these flowers in abundance. A climbing shrub with green stems; leaves opposite, odd-pinnate. Sathpethi-dae-saman or Gandhaneeliya is mentioned by Clough p153 |
| Jasminum malabaricum | Pichcha | - | mullai | - |
| Jasminum sambac | Gaeta pichcha | - | kodimalli, malligai | A suberect shrub with pubescent young branches; leaves simple, opposite, membranous.- |
| Juglans regia (walnut) | Aettakottam | Akschota | - | No tropical species. The sinhalese name "Aetakottam" is not very well known and
may be an
adaptation from the sanskrit Akschota" Old English: walhhnutu is wealh (foreign) + hnutu (nut). Etymologically it "meant the nut of the Roman lands (Gaul and Italy) as distinguished from the native hazel" according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Walnuts are very popular due to its alleged ability to reduce blood cholesterol. The finely powdered bark is used in ayurvedic medicine for bleeding gums and as a mouth rinse. It is used in cosmetics for dentifrice, tooth powder, mouth rinses, deodorants and chewing gums. |
| Justicia betonica | Sudu Purukmal | - | - | A.- |
| Jatropha curcuras
(physic nut, big purge nut, Moghul castor-oil plant) Image and write up |
Weta Endaru, Vaeta Erandu, Parsi Erandu | dravanti, kanana eranda, musikaparni, parvataeranda, vyaghraeranda- | atalai,eliyamanakku, kattamanakku | Jatropha is a small tree or large shrub, which can reach
a height of three to five meters under normal
conditions, and as much as eight to ten under
favorable conditions. It has a sticky opalescent juice; leaves simple, alternate.
Medicinal (purge) appications in traditional treatments.
It is
a multi-purpose tree with myriad
traditional uses. It gives cooking salt from the ashes of the roots and branches, food garnish from
stewed or steamed leaves, fuel from fruit hulls and shells, dyes and tannins from leaf juice and ashes,
and wool spinning and textile manufacture from the oil. The bark contains a wax composed of a
mixture of melissyl alcohol and its melissimic acid ester. The oil is used as fish poison and pesticide,
leaf extracts have been effective in controlling fungal pathogens. The latex is antibiotic
against Candida albicans,
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogens.
Thus the residue obtained after extraction of the oil can be used as a pesticde
and fertilizer.
Its most important modern application is in the production of Bio-diesel, with four kilograms of seed geing required for one liter of oil. For instance, Canadian companies have set up plantations in Ghana to produce bio-diesel, and also gain Carbon credits. German-Kenyan study on Jatropha concludes that the only Jatropha plantation model that appears profitable for smallholders within a reasonable timeframe (less than ten years) is growing the trees as fences. |
| Jatropha gossypifolia | Rath Endaru | - | adalai | - |
| Jatropha multisydu | Mayurapada Endaru | - | - | Medicinal. - |
| atropha podagrica | Vishakumba, Wishakumba | - | - | - |
| Jonesia Asoca, J. Asoka | Diya Rathmal | - | - | - |
| Justicia adhatoda | Adhathoda | attarusha- | adathodai | - |
| Justicia botanica | Sudu Puruk | - | - | A shrub, 0.5-1.5 m tall with erect, cylindrical, glabrous stems, swollen and purple above the nodes. |
| Justicia gendarussa, Adhatoda subserrata 'Variegata (Verigated water willow) | Kalu Vaeraniya | - | karunocci | Shrub, about 1 meter tall. Medicinal uses of the bark. The leaves are usually green, but may become white, yellow or mixed. |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Kaempferia galanga, c.f.,Knoxia zeylanica | Inguru Piyali | - | kacholum | - |
| Kalanchoe laciniata | Akkapana | hemasagara- parnabija | kkattukkalli, ranakalli | - |
| Kalanchoe pinnata, Cotyledon pinnata, Bryophyllum pinnatum (The air plant) | Akkapana | asthibhaksha- | Mallakulli, Runakkalli, viranakkalli, irankall | It is a small plant whose leaves, when crushed, are believed to
drive away serpents. Even a single leaf can develop young
plantlets, send out shoots and grow. It is applied to wounds and contusions. It is said to prevent swelling and discolouration and heal wounds. The juice of the leaves is given internally for kidney stones etc. Used in asthma cures as well (no substantiated experimental basis for many such claims). Images and write up - |
| Kandelia rheedii | Kadol | - | Kandal | SERUKADOLA (Cherukkandal) Vaetagandara (Vaddakandal) Monarakadola (Mannakandal) Naedunkadola (NaddanKandal) |
| Kendrikuia walkeri,Osbeckia wakeri | Val Bo~vitiya, Wal Bovitiya | - | - | - | Kedrostis rostrata | - | - | karamputakkovai |
| Kedrostis rostrata | - | - | panankovai | |
| Kirganelia reticulata | - | - | nirpalai | |
| Kirganelia reticulata | - | - | karunelli | |
| Knema attenuata | - | - | curappattiri | |
| Knema attenuata | - | - | curiya pattiri | |
| Kydia calycina | - | - | vendai | |
| Kydia calycina | - | - | vattakannu |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Lagenaria siceraria | Diyalabu | katutumbi- tiktalabu | suraikai, sorakkai | A species of Labu gourd is hollowed and dried, and used as a receptacle for carrying Palm toddy by the traditional toddy tapper who climbs up coconut trees which are tapped. The receptacle was known as "Labu-kaetaya". | |
| Languas galanga | Kaluwala | - | - | - | |
| Lannea coromandelica | Hik | ajasringgi- | udi, anaikarai | Hikkandiya (Sittandi), Hikgoda (Thikkodai) | |
| Lantana camara | Gandapana - | - | puchedi, arippu | - | |
| Lantana indica | Gandapaana | - | nativaricceti, kutampai | - | |
| Laportea interrupta | Val Kahambiliya | - | perunkanchori | - | |
| Lasia spinosa | Kohila | Abhiru | - |
A stout, spiny, marshy plant with a creeping, spiny rootstock.
Picture The sharpness of the "kohila" spines is the basis of a sinhala proverb: Kimbulage dathen beerunath kohila katuven beerenna baehae. |
|
| Lawsonia inermis, L. spinosa (Henna, campire) |
Marathonda, Maehaenda |
madayantika, ragangi, sakachera | maroodaniei, Marudhaani | This is the Henna plant which produces a deep burgandy dye
used in India and the middle east for decorating the body etc.
Much branched shrub, the lateral branches 4-gonous often ending in a sharp point;leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, small Henna Plant |
|
| Leea indica | Burulla | - | ottanali,niyakku | - | |
| Lens culinaris | Parippu | - | - | - | |
| Leonotis nepetaefolia | Maha Yak Vanassa, Yakwanassa | - | ranaperi | - | |
| Lepurandra saccidora | Ritigaha | - | - | - | |
| Leucaena leucocephla | Ipil Ipil | - | - | - | |
| Leucas biflora | Vilandavaenna | - | - | - | |
| Leucas zeylanica | Gaeta Thumba | - | - | - | |
| Limonia acidissima, Feronia limonia, Feronia elephantum, Schinus limonia (Wood apple) | Divul, Diwul, Dimbul, Givul (?) | kapitthah | narivila | Images and write up Dimbulaagala, Dimbulgoda, Divulpitiya etc., are common place names. The name " Givul" has been used in the medieval Sinhalese text "Raajaratnaakaraya". The ripe fruit pulp can be made into jams, or into a Delicious drink, where the jaggery of the Kithul-palm tree is used in Sri lanka. It is claimed that: "The fruit is much used in India as a liver and cardiac tonic, and, when unripe, as an astringent means of halting diarrhea and dysentery and effective treatment for hiccough, sore throat and diseases of the gums. The pulp is poulticed onto bites and stings of venomous insects, as is the powdered rind." - | |
| Limonia pentaphylla | Ve kurundu, Velkurundu (?), වේකුරුංදු | - | - | plant with small white fragrant flowers- | Limnocharis flava | Diyagova, Diyagowa | - | - | The vegetable contains relatively high levels of Ca, Fe and ß-carotene, which are minerals . The leaves of L. flava are also collected for household consumption in Bangladesh Jva etc - |
| Lionicera Caprifolium, L.-japonica, L- sempervirens (Honeysukels) | Paeni-kaeralli | Amirtha | - | Honeysuckle is used in herbal cough medicines, fever and even in an H1N1 (swine) flu preparation | |
| Lippia nodiflora | Hiramana Daetta | - | poduthalai (?) | - | |
| Lobelia nicotianifolia | Val Dunkola, Wal dumkola | - | kattupugaiyilai | - | |
| Luffa acutangula | Vaetakolu | amara | kirutavetanai, pekankai,pirkku, maruluvikam | - | |
| Luffa cylindrica | Niyan Vaetakolu | - | melukupirkku, pontukapirkku | - | |
| Lumnitzera racemosa (Mangrove) | Beriya | - | Tipparethai | - | |
| Lumnitzera littorea (Mangrove) | Beriya | - | - | - | |
| Lycopersicon esculentum | Thakkaali | - | pennacikam, pennakicacceti | - | |
| Lycopodium crenum (club moss species) | Badal vanassa, Vil vanassa | - | - | Vil haedaya is also a related species- | |
| Lycopodium phlegmaria | Maha Haediya | - | - | A pendulous epiphyte 15cm long, dichotomously branched, always stramineous; leaves close, spreading or ascending, ovate or ovate-lanceolate.- | |
| Lycopodium squarrosum | Kuda Haediya | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Macaranga peltata | Keanda - | - | vattakkanni, vattattamarai | A small tree with stout, green branchlets covered with a glaucous bloom and marked with large leaf and stipule scars when young; leaves simple, alternate, very large, 22.5 cm long,broadly ovate.- | |
| Madhuca longifolia, Madhuca fulva | Mee, madupa | madhuka | iluppai, iluppai ennai |
Meegamuwa (Neerkozimpu) (Negambo) Meepathota, Madhpathota (Iluppaikadavai) |
|
| Madhuca indica | Urulumee, Hurulu Mee | - | - | - | |
| Malaluca leucadendron | Lothsumbul, RothImbul | - | - | - | |
| Mallotus eriocarpus | Val Kappetiya, Wal Kappetiya | - | - | - | |
| Mallotus tetracoccus | Boo kenda, Bu Kaenda | - | - | - | |
| Mangifera indica, Mangifera foetida | Mee Amba, amba | amra, sahakara | Ma, Mamaram, Amiram, Mangai | AMBAVATHTHANA (Ammivaittan) AMBAGAMA (Ampakamam), Ambagaskolla (Kokumarankuli) | |
| Mangifera zeylanica | Atamba, Aetamba, amba | Amara | Mangai, (manga in Malayalam) |
It is said that Buddha himself rested and meditated with his
fellow monks in the peaceful tranquility of lush mango groves
in places such as Amrapali and Mahachunda. The sinhala ``amba" may have come from the pali word ``ambha", which is itself related to the Sanskrit "amara". mango trees are mentioned in the Mahavamsa (5th century CE) in referring to various historical events - e.g., arrival of Mahinda, during the time of Asoka. The Munnesvaram temple respected an ancient Sinhala Buddhist rite known as "Amba-vidamana" even up to the late 19th century, possibly related to the goddess Pattini treated as a Buddhist divine spirit. However, with the rise of Tamil Nationalism and Shaivisam (c.f., associated with Arumugam Navalaar), a Shiavite festival known as "Vettaitiruvilar" (i.e, hunting festival)came to be imposed at the Munnesvaram Temple, eradicating some of these symbols of quai-Buddhist practice. Further Saivite characteristics were added in 1947 by the inclusion of processions of 63 munis and dancing Shiva (Natesar). Similarly, efforts were taken to fell a Bo tree growing in the temple premises, in spite of the opposition of many local people who were Buddhists, as well as many Hindus (see also, Rohan Bastin: Domain of constant excess - plural worship at the Munneswaram Temples, Berghan Books, 2002). |
|
| Manihot utilissima, Manihot esculenta (Manioc, Cassava, Tapioca) | Man(g)nokka manioc | kalpakandah- darukandah | maravaati, maravalli, al-vallik-kizhangu | It is one of many plants which manufactures a type of cyanide
to deter animals who might want to eat it. The cyanide is released as
hydrocyanic acid
and goes away with the water vapour when boiled.
In Sri Lanka, manioc is never eaten with any ginger products,
as it is claimed that this leads to poisoning. Manioc which contains B17 vitamin has also been claimed to be an anti-cancer agent. These are purely anecdotal unverified claims. see however Tapioca treatment for cancer | |
| Manilkara hexandra | Palu | rajadana- | cappotta | Paludohona (Palayadithona) Paluraajaweva (Palaiyatisirukkulam) Palugama (Palukamam) Sirirpalugama (Thirupalugamam) | |
| Manilkara zapota van Royen, Manilkara achras Fosb. | Sapodilla | - | cappotta | - | |
| Manilkara zapotilla Gilly | Sapadilla | - | cimaiyiluppai | - | |
| Mappia ovata | rata-hinguru | - | - | Clough p 152 | |
| Marsdenia tenacissima | Maruvadul, Muruwadul | - | - | A large shrubby. twining plant with stout. bluntly angular. densely velvety and hairy branches leaves simple serv large. opposite. l5-l 7.5 cm long and nearly as wide, deeply cordate with rounded lobes at base.- | |
| Maytenus annua | Naga Barana, naaga Barana | - | - | - | |
| Maytenus emarginata | ?Katukilla?, Katu-dang ? | Kankera? | kattangi | Tree of shrubland or dry area. This is a scared trea in Tamil nadu. It is a small, compact tree, 3-5 m. high; young branches purple, often spiny, with leaves and flowers on the spines. common in open field in semi arid area. Very hardy plant. This has been mistakenly identified as Katupila which is also a thorny bush with white berries. The berries of Martenus E. are not as white. See Image | |
| Martynia diandra | Naga-darana | - | - | Reputed in Sri lanka to be a remedy for snake-bites. | |
| Melastoma malabathricum | Maha Bovitiya | - | kadallai | - | |
| Melia azadirachta | Lunu Midella | - | tuttai, veppamaram, malaivembu | - | |
| Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) | Pangiri thala, Paengiri thalaa ? | - | - | Not native to Sri lanka, Mint family Lamiaceae, native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It contains eugenol (as also found in cloves). It is an antibacterial and it is also used in aromatherapy, herbal teas etc. Cream used in the treatment of genital or oral herpes. Images and write up | |
| Meliosma pinnata | Ael Baedda | - | - | - | |
| Memecylon edule | Korakaha | anjani- | kaca | - | |
| Memecylon grande | Daedi Kaha | - | - | - | |
| Mentha haplocalyx (Corn Mint, Chinese mint) | Kotu Minchi, Cheena minchi | - | - | Used in Chinese herbal medicine, Corn Mint is a treatment for colds, and sore throats, mouth, and tongue and even toothaches and measles. It promotes sweating, break up congestion. It is also used to treat diarrhea, and even H1N1-flu Chinese herbal and swine flu (see article in the Hindu, Nov. 2009) | |
| Mentha piperita (Peppermint, curled mint) | saera-Minchi, Paparamintha | Paparamintha | Pudina | Used in medicine and in flavouring of foods: * Peppermint (active ingredient: menthol) has a soothing effect on irritant skin caused by hives, poison ivy, or poison oak, insect bite. * When applied to the forehead and temples reduces headache. * Peppermint is an effective decongestants, expectorant, soothing and calming for sore throats and dry coughs. * Peppermint help to relieve painful cramps as it relaxes muscles during menstrual periods in females. * Peppermint relaxes the muscles during digestion.. * reduce swelling and inflammation from bruises. * Used in pharmacy to disguise the unpleasant taste of other medicines. | |
| Mentha sylvestris (Wild Mint) | Minchi | Pudina, Putiha | Putina - | Used in medicine and in flavouring of foods | |
| Merremia tridentata | Heen Maaduvael | - | tirippanpul, auvaiyar kundal | - | |
| Merremia umbellata | Kiri maduvael | - | - | - | |
| Mertensia dichtoma | Vil kakilla, Vil Kaekilla | - | - | - | |
| Messua nagassarium (Iron wood) | Naa | nagakesarah- | Peri | Some times referred to as the National Tree of Sri Lanka | |
| Mesua ferrea | Na, Naa | nagakesarah- nagapuspa | nangu, cirunakappu | Naaoya (Peraru), this is sometimes referred to as the national tree of Sri Lanka, and is svery similar to Messua nagassarium. | |
| Mesua Shorea, Doona congestiflora | Nadoon, Naedun | - | Nirnaval?- | large tree, typically found in Sri lanka's forests, including Sinha Raja. | |
| Michelia champaca | Sapu, Ginisapu | campaka- | campanki, canpakam | - | |
| Michelia nilagirica | Wana Sapu, vana sapu | - | vanacampakam | - | |
| Michania Scandens | Maruvel, Maruvael | - | - | - | |
| Micrcos paniculata | Keheliya, Keliya | - | - | - | |
| Micromelum ceylanicum, Micromelum minutum | Val Karapincha, Karapincha | - | - | - | |
| Milia azidarachta | Hik-kohomba | - | Malai-vempu | - | |
| Mimosa catechu | Kihiri | - | Karuvel | Kihiriwella (Kathiraveli) Kihirikanda (Kudiramalai) | |
| Mimosa octandraa | raththana | - | - | a red grass (B. Clough) | |
| Mimosa pudica | Nidi Kumba | lajjalu- samanga | ilaccaki,tottalvati | - | |
| Mimusops elengi | Moonamal | Vakula, bakula, kesara | magizha,magilam | Mahiyapitiya (Mahiappitti) Vakulavaedda(Mahilaettuvaan) | |
| Mimusops indica | Palu | - | Paalai | Paludohona (Palayadithona) Paluraajaweva (Palaiyatisirukkulam) Palugama (Palukamam) Sirirpalugama (Thirupalugamam) | |
| Mirabilis jalapa | Hendirikka - | - | pattiratci | - | |
| Mitragyna Tubulosa | Haelamba, Halamba | bhumikadamba ? | nirkadambai | Haelambaweva(Salampaikulam ) Sunakaelambaweva (Sonakasalampaikkulam) | |
| Modeca palmata Passifloraceae.,adenia palmata, Granadilla hondala, Adenia hondala | Hondala, Pothu-hondala | Vidari | Puli-vaaka?- | Described in an 1813 French text. Recorded in Dassanayake and Fosberg, 1980. This is a poisonous plant (large climber in torpical forests). Juice of leaves and roots used externally for skin diseases. Images and write up | |
| Mollugo cerviana | Pathpadagam | - | parpaatakam | - | |
| Mollugo spergula | Theerapala, තීරපලා | Dheera... | Tirayaanti | Hirikaenna (Thiraykkeani) | |
| Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) | Karawila, Karavila | karavella (Karav īra ?) | pakal, paval | See also under Niyangala (Glory Lilly). c.f., Pali Text society Dictionary, p.179, reg. wreath of karavīra flowers on a criminal ready for execution: rattavaṇ-- virala-- mālāya bandhakaṇǦdha PvA 4 (cp. AvŚ i.102; ii.182; karavīra-- mā lābaddha [sakta ii.182]-- kaṇǦdheguṇa). -- kūpa the cavity of the throat Mhbv 137. -- ja produced in the throat. | |
| Momordica dioica (spine gourd) | Thumba Karivila | bankreal ?- | palupalagakalungai,palupakarkoti |
Images and write up
Medicinal applications. presence of anti-oxidants etc. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 115, Issue 1, 4 January 2008, Pages 61-66 - |
|
| Monochoriahastata (arrowleaf Sida, false pickerel weed, Beal plant) | Moodu awara | Arusakara | tankacci | India and Sri lanka. Used in medicinal preparations. See Neelayadi Tailaya. Sri Lanka wetlands | |
| Morinda citrifolia | Ahu | achchhuka | manjanatti, nuna | Ahuvila (Nunavil) | |
| Morinda coreia | Goda Ahu | - | nuna | - | |
| Moringa oleifera (Drumstick Tree) | Murunga | sigru- sobhanjana | murunkai, murungai | A small legumenose tree, 3-8 metres tall, fast growing
and hardy, with a leafy canopy of attractive tripinnate
ferny foliage, appealing wherever it is planted. Small,
waxy, creamy-white flowers resembling miniature orchids,
form in clusters on
terminal stems, followed by 20-30cm long round pods. Pods similar to
drumsticks, as in its common name. The shell of the
pod has 3 sections with a row of wing-edged, round,
seeds. The names "Gandhaka", and Grajana are given by Clough, p153, p174 It has been claimed that (see article by Tilak Fernando): "the crushed seeds of Moringa is capable of attracting and sticking fast to bacteria and other viruses allowing them to be skimmed off or get trapped in filter beds. In developed countries water authorities use chemicals such as Aluminium Sulphate to solidify impure particles, which are then removed at Treatment Works. In view of the scarcity of such chemicals, the latest discovery of Moringa tree, which is also known as the " Drumstick Tree", is a path breaking innovation to purify water in developing countries, at a cost of only a fraction of the conventional chemical treatment available today." The use of Murunga as an anti-malarial has also been proposed. | |
| Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna prurita | Wanduru Me, Vanduru Mee- | - | punaikkali | - | |
| Mucuna gigantia | Kana-Pus-Waela Kana pus vaela | - | punaikkali | - | |
| Mugonia mystax | Bu - Gemiya, BooGaemiya | - | punaikkali | - | |
| Muehlenbergia viridissima | Garudaraja | - | - | - | |
| Munronia pinnata, Ophelia Chirata (Bitters), | Bin Kohomba, Bim Kohomba | - | - | -"Bim kohomba" means ''Kohomba which grows at ground level".
A very small hardy shrub with unbranched stems 5 cm long.
There is also a ``heen bin kohomba", i.e., a "thin" varaiety, Andrographis paniculata Heen Bim Kohomba |
|
| Mununtingia calabura (Jamaican Cherry tree) | Jaam gaha | - | - | It has small sweet sticky fruits, juicy and full of tiny seeds, and small white flowers. They are a favourite with birds and bats and kids, who disperse the seeds. The leaves are covered with tiny sticky hairs. The tree grows fast, (up to 7-12m) and even in arid areas. May be useful for reforestation and for dendro-energy projects. Heen BIm Kohomba | |
| Murraya exotica, Murraya paniculata (mock orange, Chinese box) | Aetteriya,Etteriya | - | cimaikkonci, konci | Ornamental plant; evergreen foliage, with pinnate leaves. These generally have 3 to 9 leaflets. Leaves are small and the foliage is fairly dense, and this plant is often grown as a bonsai tree | |
|
Murraya koenigii Spreng.(curry leaves) Images and write up |
Karapincha, Kara pincha | surabhinimba, kalasaka, mahanimba, girinimba (i.e., mountain-neem)- | kariveppilai (kariveppi-ilai i.e., ilai=leaf), karivempu | The plant is a useful condiment and it is also ornamental.
Leaves are used to flavour south asian dishes.It is used with coconut
milk and spices in Sri lankan cooking.
The shiny-black fruits are
nutritious. An alkaloid, murrayacinine, and essential oils are found in karapincha. beta-caryophyllene and related essential oils are also found. (Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 17, 144, 2002; Phytochemistry, 21, 1653, 1982) The leaves, the bark and the roots are used as a tonic and a digestive aid. They are also used externally to cure eruptions and insect bites The green leaves and its tea are used in dysentery, and to stop vomiting. Its use in the diet has recently been claimed to lower cholesterol levels and type II diabetes (based on glucose levels in the blood), as demonstrated experimentally on mice. Am. J. Chin. Med. vol 34, p279 (2006) Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii Spreng.) reduces blood cholesterol and glucose levels in ob/ob mice. Xie JT, Chang WT, Wang CZ, Mehendale SR, Li J, Ambihaipahar R, Ambihaipahar U, Fong HH, Yuan CS. Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. We observed that curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) extract possesses the property to decrease blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels in diabetic ob/ob mice. Mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of 80 mg/kg curry leaf extract for 10 consecutive days. The extract significantly decreased blood cholesterol level from 277.6 +/- 16.6 mg/d (day 0) to 182.0 +/- 15.3 mg/d (day 10, p less than 0.01 compared with the change in vehicle group). The extract also significantly decreased blood glucose level from 387.0 +/- 15.6 mg/dl (day 0) to 214.0 +/- 26.6 mg/dl (day 10, p less than 0.01). In addition, body weight was reduced after extract treatment. Our data suggest that curry leaf may be proven to be of clinical importance in improving the management of high cholesterol level and type 2 diabetes. |
|
| Musa paradisiaca | Kesel, ramba | kadali,- rambha | tatam | - | |
| Musa sapeintum | Modan Kesel | - | - | - | |
| Mussaenda frondosa | Mussanda | nagvalli- | velli ilai | - | |
| Mutingia calabura | Jam, Jaaem Gaha | - | - | - | |
| Myristica dactyloides | Malaboda | jatiphala- | pattapanku | - | |
| Myristica horsfieldia | Puvangu, Puwangu | - | - | see entry under Aglaia roxburghiana- | |
| Myristica fragrans | Sadikka, Saadikka | - | jathikai | - | |
| Myrtus canescens (Ceylon Gooseberry) | Sitha Pera, seetha Pe~ra, සීත පේර | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Nelumbo nucifera | Nelun | kamala, arvinda | tamarai, ambal | Nelunweva (Nelukulam) | |
| Neolitsea cassia, (Laurus Cassia) | Kudu Duvala, Davul Kurundu, Dawul Kurundu | - | - | Also, Laurus Cassia-
"It is the Dawul Kurundu of the Cingalese, the Can-nella Matto of the
Portuguese, and the Wilde Canule of the Dutch.-Marshall, Phil. Trans.
1817." "he odour of the bark termed cassia-bark is similar to that of cinnamon, but fainter; and the taste is more pungent, but less agreeable: appearing slimy when much chewed. It is of a cinnamon colour, in pieces more or less quilled, but the quills are not inserted in one another : they are about one tenth of an inch in thickness; which break with a short, close fracture, and show it to consist of two parts; the inner darker and of a fine texture, and the outer paler and somewhat spongy. When these are separated, the inner part has all the sensible qualities of real cinnamon, only more pungency, whilst the outer has scarcely either flavour or taste: and I am of opinion, that the allowing this cellular integument, from which the cinnamon is freed, to remain in the bark termed cassia, constitutes the chief cause of the l Annals of Phil. vol. x. p. 245." | |
| Nepenthes distillatoria | Bandura, Benduru | - | - | See: Carnivorus plants in SL Venus fly trap (Dionaea Muscipula), Cats paw (Uncaria Tomentosa) etc., are similar carnivorous plants but NOT natural to Sri Lanka. | |
| Nepheta Cateria (Catmint, Catnip) Write up and Images |
Gaeta minchi ගැට මින්චි?
Kuppameniya, කුප්පමේනිය ? |
- | - | The name Kuppamenia is also confusingly
used for Acalypha Indica, in Sri Lankan local languages.
The word "kuppa" in "Kuppamenia", means "stimulated", or "roused",
Catnip is attractive to cats, but it is not common inSri lanka. It is Acalypha Indica,
which has a similar reaction to cats, and known as "Kuppamenia".
The dried powder is available in pet stores, and
used by cat trainers. The name, "gaetaminchi", rarely used, is probably derived from Portuguese/Spanish Romance sources: "Gato", i.e., Cat. and has nothing to do with the Sinhalese word "Gaeta", ගැට. This Mediterranean plant may have been introduced by Western invaders, as it is not native to Sri Lanka. The Latin name, Nepeta for Catmint, is said to come from Nepi, a town near Rome. It is an aromatic, psychedelic plant containing nepetalactone, a terpenoid. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation of the plant. It was used as a herbal tea, and as a calming agent for hyper-active children and patients in earlier times. Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium,where the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors where it probably mimics a cat pheromone, found in the urine of Tom cats. The genus "Nepta" has some 250 species and all of them have various "Catmint-like" actions. Catnip, like Maduru thala, repels mosquitos, and has many applications in herbal medicine. | |
| Nephelium lappaceum | Rambutan | - | - | - | |
| Nephelium longanum, c.f., Euphoria longan | Mora | - | Nurai ? | Moragolla (Nuraichchoalai ) | |
| Neptunia oleracea, Desmanthus natans | Jalakumba | alambusa- | sundaikkirai, kuntikkirai | Kumbakuliya (Chundikuli) | |
| Nerium oleander, Nerium indicum (Oleander) | Kaneru, arali-kaduru | Karavir | arali, kanaviram | This is a very poisonous garden plant which may have been
introduced to Sri Lanka by the portuguese or the Arabs.
The ancient city of Volubilis in Morocco took its name from
the Latin name for the flower. The flower has some similarities
to the Araliya flower, and its poisonous qualties are
similar to the strychnine-bearing " It has been used in skin problems and in Ayurvedic applications. However, it contains cardiac poisons, and extreme care should be used. Its leaves and all parts of the plant have been used as suicidal poisons (and for female infanticide in Tamil nadu in) India and in the mediterranean countries. Images and write up
| |
| Nicotiana tabacum | Dumkola | - | pugaiyilai,Phaielai | Tobacco was ntroduced to Japanaya (Jaffna) peninsula, then known then as "Waeligama" (Valikamama), by the Dutch who brought Malabar Indians from south India as labour for the Tobacco plantations.Thus much of the customs (e.g., Thesavalam), the Tamil language and religious practices used in the Jaffna peninsula are from the Malabar coast. Even in the 1930s, British writers referred to the "Malabar Tamils" and the Hill-country Tamils (brought in as labour to grow Tea) as two distinct groups.The Colombo Tamils were the wealthier upper-caste Tamils who migrated to the south to work for the successive imperial administrations. They were mostly converted christian Vellalas and led the Tamil nationalist movements of Ponnambalam in the 1930s, and Chelvanayagam et al., in the post-independent Ceylon, with the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kaschi (Tamil soverignist party). It was formed in 1949, presented in English as the Federal party, and as a separatists party in Tamil writings. See Dr. Jane Russell, Communal Politics under the Donoughmore Constitution, Tissara Prakasakyo, 1982 | |
| Nyctanthes arborstristis (night jasmine) | Sepalika | sephalika, Parijath- | paricatam | Grown in Buddhist-temple gardens in Sri Lanka. Jasminum oriculatum is also identified as Sepalika. Images and write up | |
| Nymphaea esculenta | Konda | - | - | species of Jasmin | |
| Nymphaea lotus | Ma-Nelum | - | allitamarai | - | |
| Nymphaea pubescens | Olu, O~lu | - | alli | - | |
| Nymphaea Stelleta | Nil Maanel, Nil Mahanel | Indheevara, Niluppala | - | National Flower of Sri Lanka, since Feb 26, 1986 | |
| Nymphoides indica, Nymphaea hydrophylla | Kumudu | - | - | - | Nypa fruticans | Gin Pol | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Ochrosia parviflora | Moodu kaduru | - | - | - |
| Ocimum basilicum | Suvandatala | Ajagandhi, Surabhi, Tulasidevesha, Tungi, Manjarika | tirunirruppaccai, tirunitru | Sweet Basil Image and write up. |
| Ocimum canum | Heentala | Ajaka, Arjaka, Gambhitr | pakli, Korai, Naitulasi,palinkiam | This is also an aromatic plant. The Tamil name "Naitulsi" evokes the snake-repellant characteristic more pronounced in Eryngium foetidum (Andu-kola). See under Andu-kola |
| Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum tenuiflorum
(African basil, clove basil, tree basil, wild basil) Image and write up |
Thungadirima?, Thungathala ?, Thankay ? | Rantulsi, Vriddhatulsi | elumichantulasi, peruntulaci | We hqave given the Sinhala name recored in B. Clogh's dictionary, Thunbgadrima.
(p 215), but the sinhala name is not established. The plant is well known as an
astringent, and belongs to the Mduruthala, suvandathala family.
Useful comparison of
different types of Basil Plants
Acoording to Prof. Gerald Peiris, there is a reference to Ocimum gratissimum and its Latin name in Somapala Wijewardenas's dictionary, stating that this is Andu-kola. However, we identify ANDU-KOLA as Eringium foetidum. Medicinal applications: 1. In South Asia, the plant (aromatic like mint and basil), as well as other Basils are used as a source of aroma in aroma therapy, in baths of fumigations used in the treatment of rheumatism etc. Decoctions used in male infertility, and STD. Seeds used in headache and neuralgia. Leaves are used as a digestive tonic, Stimulant and demulcent. 2. In Africa, Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae), is used in the treatment of different diseases, e.g., upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, headache, fever, ophthalmic, and skin diseases, and pneumonia (Correa 1932, Onajobi 1986, Ilori et al. 1996). The Ocimum oil is also active against several species of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella and Proteus) and fungi ( Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes) (El-Said et al. 1969, Begum et al. 1993, Nwosu and Okafor 1995, Nakamura et al. 1999, Orafidiya et al. 2000). Various related species of O. gratissimum, e.g., O. viride Linn, O. suave Linn, O. basilicum Linn and O. canum Sims, have been studied for their medicinal applications (Mshana et al. 2000). |
| Ocimum sanctum, (Sacred Basil, Holy Basil) | Maduruthala | surasa- | karuntulaci, tulaci, Alungai,Kullai | The name "Maduruthala" refers to mosquitos - it is used as an astringent against mosquitoes, either by directly using crushed plants, or using extracts, or its essential oils etc. The plant is also called "Gandhapathra", p153, Clough. |
| Odina woodier | Hik | - | -- | - |
| Ophiorrhiza mungos (Mongoose plant, Indian snakeroot) | Dhath Ketiya, Dath Ketiya, Dath Kaetiya, Dhath Ketiya | - | kirippurantan |
Drawing of plant Folk legend claims that the mongoose eats this plant after fighting cobras. It is used to treat snake bite. picture |
| Opuntia dillenii | katu pathok | - | naga-dali | - |
| Ornitrophe serrata | Moodu Kobbe | - | - | - |
| Oroxylum indicum | Thotila, Totila | syonaka, aralu- | Vanga, achi, pana | It is a tree which can reach a height of 12 m. with enormous seed pods. Used in the traditional Sinhala " Dashamoola arishtaya", a decoction containing 10 herbs. A similar decoction used in India, known as "elixir of life", is called Chyawanprash, given as a paste containing 25-80 ingredients. It is independently used as a remedy for dysentery, rheumatism, joint pains etc. Bark is used in India for mouth cancer. |
| Oryza fufipogon, - derennis moench (pig grass) | Uoorutana | - | - | "You can recognize the musical (gandarva) site, because a paddy field weed called pig grass (oorutana) grows there. It is suitable for those of low caste. (Mayamataya)" |
| Oryza sativa | Wee, Vee, haal | tandula, sali | nel, Nellu | Siriveevaella (Thirunelveli) |
| Osbeckia octranda | Heen Bovitiya, Heen Bowitiya | - | - | - |
| Osbeckia parvifolia, O-rubicunda | Bovitiya, Bowitiya | - | - | - |
| Osbeckia wakeri,Kendrikuia walkeri | Bovitya, Bowitiya- | - | - | see also Kendrikuia walkeri |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Pandanus amaryllifolius | Rampa, Rampe | - | - | - | |
| Palaquium grande | Kiripedda, Kiripaedda | - | - | - | |
| Palaquium rubiginosum | Tawenna, Tavaenna | - | - | - | |
| Palaquium petriolare | Kirihembiliya, Kirihaembiliya | - | - | - | Panicum crus-galli | Vael muruk, Walmuruk | - | - | type of "panic grass" |
| Paritimn tilliaceum | Belli-patta | - | - | - | |
| Parkia timoriana, Parkia Roxburghii (tree bean) | Saputa Maara, Toku-gedi gaha ? | Sapota | Shivalaingada Maara (dravidian languages) ? | Large tree found in Assam etc. Not native to Sri Lanka, but sometimes found
in the up-country, and in the Peradeniya Gdns.
No established sinhala name, but name derived from
Hindi/Sanskrit may have been used or confused with Maara trees.
The large beans (pods) are edible. Bark extract used in diarrhoea and dysentery. Bark and leaves are used in lotion applied to skin sores. Oil has insecticidal properties. Parkia Timoriana Image | |
| Paspalum scrobiculatum (Kodo millet) | Amu Sal | Kodravah, varuka | vapitam, varagu, varuka | a bitter-sweet, astringent grain. It grows on a grass-like plant
which may grow to 90 cm. Seeds have
medicinal (diuretic, tonic, used for type-II diabetes in India)
and possible insect-control properties.
Experiments have yielded several
known fatty acids, sterols, unusual alkane-like hydrocarbons
well known for
their insect pheromone activity along with
the antitumour glyceride, alpha-palmitin.
The grain is mentioned in the Mayamatha a medieval Sinhalese astrological work. |
|
| Passiflora edulis | Vael Dodang | mukkopeera ? | ciru punai-k-kali- | - | |
| Pavetta indica | Pavatta | papata- | pavattai, karanai | Pavattaweva (Pavatkulam, Pavattaikulam) | |
| Pavonia odorata | Pichcha, Vaala | Mahabala, Mahavaala | peramutti, avibattam | Pothuvila (Pottuvil) | |
| Pavonia zeylanica | Kurundthati ? | Bala | cirramuttii,chitta mutti | - | |
| Penicillaria involucratum | Pothuhaera | - | pottukkampu | Pothuvila (Pottuvil) | |
| Pennisetum olystachyon | Pogon | grass | - | - | |
| Pericopsis mooniana | Nedun, Naedun | - | - | Nadunkurana (Nedunkerney) Nadun weva (Nedunkulam) Nadunkadola (Nedunkandal) | |
| Persea americana | Alipera | - | - | - | |
| Phaseolus aureus Robx (green gram) | Mung | - | Moong | see also Vigna radiata | |
| Phaseolus mungo (black gram) | ulunda | - | uluntu, payaru | - | |
| Phlomis Ceylanica | kuramba ? | - | Dron2a-pushpi, kula-pAlaka ? | type of orange | |
| Phoberos macrophyllus | Katu Kurundu | - | - | - | |
| Phoenix sylvestris (wild date) | Wal Indi, val Indi | - | - | This is a fruit plant endemic to Sri lanka. Very similar species are found in India. The word `Phoenix`in the Latin name came from Greek and means "purple". while `Sylvestris` means "wild". The leaves may be used for making mats, bags etc. The tree is tapped to make a toddy or palm wine. Wild Date | |
| Phyllanthus debilis, Phyllanthus airy-shawii (Niruri ) | Pitawakka, Pitavakka | Thaamalaki-,Drdhapadia | - | Plant is used in Sinhala medicine for daibetes. See Ratnasooriya et al- Image | |
| Phyllanthus emblica, Emblica officinalis ( Indian gooseberry, myrobalan ) | Nelli | Dhatri | Nelli, toppi | Place-names: Nelliyadda (Nelliyaddi) It part of the "Aralu, Bulu, Nelli combination of Thripala popular in Sri Lanka, and in S. Asia. The fruit is extremely rich in Vitamin C. There are tanning agents in the juice and the bark. It is a major constituent of other Ayurvedic Tonics, "rasaayanams", and in Sinhala Kashaaya etc. It is the base of Chyawanprash. Charak Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise written by Charak in the 4th century BC, contains the first historically documented formula for Chyawanprash. This ‘jam’ is a mix of 49 ayurvedic herbs with ‘nelli’ (Indian gooseberry) or Emblica officinalis as the base. The other ingredients in this traditional recipe include ashwaganda, pippali, cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon in a base of clarified butter and honey. This 'elixir' is claimed to be good for all, irrespective of age and gender, and said to create a harmonious synergy in the body leading to better metabolism. (Please note that in this website we report the information available in the literature, but make no claims to their scientific validity. Indian hebalists sell Cyawanprash for about $30 per lb in white plastic bottles-price in the year 2010. It is in their interests to boost these claims.). nelli is claimed to be useful in hemorrhoids, gastritis and colitis, and the regulation of blood sugar. The crushed dried fruit is available in tablet form and sold as alternative medicine in the west. Image and write up |
|
| Phyllanthus urinaria | Pitawakka | bahupatra- | cirukilanelli | - | |
| Picrorrhiza Kurroa Image of dried roots |
Katukarosana | Katuka | - | Well known herb used in Sri Lankan local medicine, in Kashayaas, to treat disorders of the liver and upper respiratory tract, reduce fevers, and to treat dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea. The dried product (roots) is mostly imported from India, but may be grown in the rocky, cooler high-elevation parts of Sri lanka. It is claimed to reduce cholesterol, anti-asthmatic, has antioxidents, and is hepato-protective. Its main ingredient is Kutkin, made up of various glycosides. It also contains curcubitins which are claimed to have anti-tumour effects. See also Updates | |
| Pimpinella anisum | Mahaduru ? | Shatapushpa- | Makampu- | It is a carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant, a pancreatic stimulant. As food, the anise is used for cooking sweet and spicy dishes. | |
| Piper betel | Bulath | nagavalli, tambula | verrilai, vettilai, Vettila (Mal), Tamalapaku (Tel), veeleya/vilya (K),Vidyache pan (Marathi) |
What is the etymology of "Bulath"? It does not seem to be related
to other languages including Sanskrit "Nagavalli". However, tamBULA
may have been abbreviated and extended to "Bulath" from the usage
for a sheaf of betels, as discussed below. The "Bula-atha" perhaps
became, "bulath atha", i.e., the sheaf of leaves given to the host
on traditional visitations in olden times. The etymology of the
Sanskirt word nagavalli is also obscure. "Valli" may have the
meaning "vine", or creeper, while the name "Naga" here is thought
to be associated with the "cobra head" shape of the veins on the
leaf. Some consumers of betel, mainly used as a masticatory mixed
with sliced arica-nut ("puvak" in Sinhala), distinguish between the
green leaved betel more common in the south, with a somewhat more
golden ("damba") variety found in the north. Also people who are
aware of the older belief systems and consuming betel usually nip
the tapering apex of the leaf in a gesture equivalent to
"decapitating the cobra". For a picture of the betel leaf, with the
"cobra-hood" or "naga-hood imprinted" leaf, see
Betel leaf .
Dr.Herman Vinze has also suggested to us that "The herb Betel is a
climber that twines in a serpentine fashion round a prop or a tree
in the vicinity, hence the epithet, NAGAVALLI". Many pepper vines
are creepers. Other types of peper, e.g., Piper longum (Thipplili
in Sinhala) are also climbers but they do not have leaves with
"naga-hood" shaped veins. It should also be noted that a tribe of
people known as the "Nagas" are mentioned in the Mahabharata,
Mahavamsa and other ancient texts, and lived in ancient south-east
Asia. They may have been consumers of this leaf. The western form "Betel" may have arisen from the Malayalam "Verilla", where the sound "v" transforms to "b" and "r" to "t", "betila" and "betel" via Portuguese, circa 16th century. The Malayalam word "Verilla" may be a compounding of "veru ila". | |
| Piper longum | Thippili, Tippili, | pippali, Magadhi - | Pippili, tippili, Pipallu (Tel), Tippali (Mal), Hipli (K) | There is also a variety known as "Gaja Thippili" or "Gajakana". Thipplili is of great importance in south Asian medicine, and occurs in many herbal preparations. See previous entry, under "Piper betel". | |
| Piper nigrum | Gammiris | maricam- | milaku, milagu | Miriswatte, Mirisa-vaetiya, Mirrissa are known place names. Mirisa Vaetiya is
an important Anuradhapura Shrine mentioned in the mahavamsa.
- | |
| Pisionia grandis | Vaathabhanga, Wathabanga | - | - | - | |
| Plantago ovata, P. arenaria (Psyllium, Ripple grass, spaghula) | aspagolla | Ashwagol,Ishadgola,Ashwakarnabeeja, Sheetabeeja | Iskolvirai, Iskol, Isphagol, Ishappukolvirai, Ishappukol | Not native to Sri lanka. It needs cool dry weather. Seeds are collected and the Psyillum husk, and muscilage are used in "colon cleanser" and obeisity medications. | |
| Pleurostylia | Panakka | - | - | - | |
| Plumbago zeylanica (Ceylon leadwort) | Ela Nitul | Chitraka | kodiveli, venkotiveli, chitramoolam, Chittira | Plant is used in sinhala native treatment in combination with other preparations, especially for fever. There are many prescriptions for fever containing it and it is prescribed in flatulence, dyspepsia, dysentery an other diseases. The root is used medicinally for bowel disorders; it is used fors anti-fertility puposes. images and write up | |
| Plumeria acuminata (Temple flower, Frangipani, Champac), Plumeria rubra | Araliya | - | arali, perungalli, kanagile, kuppiyalani, | The residence of the Prime minster of Sri Lanka is known as
"Temple Trees". The flower is
offered in buddhist temples, votive offerings to gods etc..
Muslims plant the tree in burial grounds.
It is related to the Oleander plant
| |
| Pogostemon heyneanus, | Gam Kollan-kola | - | kannokkikyacceti, katir paccai | Pogostemon Patchouli is a variety of this plant, from which Patchouli is produced. See Clough's dictionary 1892, p149- | |
| Polyalthia longifolia | Owila, Ovila, asoka | asoka ulkatah | nettilinkam, assothi | - | |
| Pometia Tomentosa | Mora | - | Murali, Chem-poovam | Morakotahena (Morakkottanchenai ) | |
| Pongamia glabra | Karanda | - | kolliyam | - | |
| Pongamia Pinnata | Karanda | - | kolliyam | - | |
| Portulaca oleracea (Purslane) | Genda kola- ගෙඳකොල | - | karikkirai, pulikkirai | There are ~200 species of purslanes, where the common name for
the group is Portulaca. The species (amn annual), Portulaca
oleracea is found around the world and almost as a weed in Sri lanka.
It grows even in poor-quality soils with little water and resists
disease. Its seeds have been found to survive for decades. P. oleracea
has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, helpful in reducing heart disease
and important in the katabolisis of cell membranes, nervous sytem,
brain and eyes. "Genda" is sold as "Keerai" by Tamil-speakingvegetable
vendors in Colombo.
Image of a typical species (Portulaca oleracea) Lawrence Newcomb's Flower guide (997) describes it as: weed is from the Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) and also goes by the name Pusley. It has rosettes of fleshy, paddle-shaped leaves, each with a small (1/4 inch wide) yellow flower. It grows low to the ground in large circular mats up to 1.2m across and it is succulent with short leaves less than an inch long scattered along its brownish stems. The flowers only open for a few hours in the morning sun and there are usually five petals but sometimes four or six. Its seeds are ovate to triangular, reddish brown to black and shiny. Each plant is capable of producing 240,000 seeds which are viable for up to 40 years. It is found in gardens and bare ground from June to October. It would be very interesting to distill the seeds of this plant and run a mass spec. or chromatograph of the product. I haven't seen any work in that direction as yet.(CDW 2010). |
|
| Premna integrifolia | Heen Midi | - | munnai, aranai | Also, premna spinosa. Used as herbal medicine, it is an ingredient of Dashamool Arishtaya | |
| Premna serratifolia | pichha-midi (?) | - | Erumai-mullai, perumunnai, munnai | Mahisadoova (Erumaitivu) Page 54 of C. Rasanayagam, Ancient Jaffna Alternative identification and pictures |
|
| Prunus ceylanica (Ceylon cherry) | Katu Lovi (?) | - | katilai | Helps reduce Gout symptoms | |
| Psidium guajava | Pera | - | sengoyya, koyya | - | - |
| Pterocarpus marsupium | Gammaalu, Gammalu | asanah- | vengai | - | |
| Pterocarpus santalinus | Rathhandun, Rath Handun, Rath keeriya ? | raktachandana- | cencantam | Then timber is highly valued. The oil is also highly valued in the aroma industry and in traditional medicine. "Sudu Handun" is Santalum album Rath Handun is applied as a paste to swellings, insect bites and dermatological conditions. It has other extensive applications in Ayurveda, where "Raktha Chandana Choorna" has been mentioned. Image and write up | |
| Pterospermum canescens | Velang, Welan | - | - | - | |
| Punica granatum | Delum | dadima- lohitapuspaka | matulai,matulam | - | |
| Putranjiva zelanica | Pelen | - | karupali | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Randia dumetorum | Kukuruman | madana- | matukkarai | - | |
| Rauvolfia serpentina Indian snakeroot) | Ekaveriya, Ekaweriya, ඒකාවේරිය | sarpagandha, chandrika | cuvanamilpoti, covannamilpori | Medicinal herb, used to lower blood pressure. It is also a tranquilizer and anti-pyschotic. The drug "resperine" is made from this plant, which is one of the earliest to be exploited by western companies. Images and write up | |
| rhinacanthus communis. | Vael anitta, Wael Aniththa | - | -l | - | |
| Rhizophora mucronata, R. Apiculata (Mangrove) | Maha Kadol | - | kandal | SERUGANDARA, SERUKADOLA (Cherukkandal) Monarakadola (Mannakandal) Naedunkadola (NaddanKandal) |
|
| Rhododendron arboretum, . | Maha ratmal, Maha Rath Mal | - | - | - | |
| Rhodomytus tomentosa, Rhodomyrtus parviflora, Myrtus canescens (Ceylon Gooseberry) | Sitha Pera, සීත පේර | - | - | - | |
| Rhynchoglossum notonianum | Nildiva,nari nakuta | - | - | Asia, and the Pacific regions. Sri Lanka | |
| Ricinus communis(Castor) Image and write up |
Erandu, Gadamba | eranda, erandagaccha (pali) | amanakku, erantam | Tis is a perennial shrub from the Euphorbiaceae family.
Seeds have been found Egyptian tombs dating
back over four millennia. The oil from the seed was used in wick lamps, unguents, medicines, purges etc.
No
other vegetable oil contains such a high
proportion of fatty hydroxy acids.
Castor oil has a low freezing point, and a high viscosity make it very
suitable for various industrial and phramaceutical applications. It is also a potentially important source of Bio-diesel. Gernam-Kenyan study -Small farms may produce 350kg of seed per acre (India), while well managed, irrigated farms may give 1600kg/acre. One tonne of seed will yield 365-573 liters of castor oil, i.e., upto 959 kg of oil. | |
| Rosmarinus officinaliss, (Rosemary) | Rasunaetta, rasunaeti ?? | Rusmari | - | This is a mediterranean strongly aromatic herb (mint family) used in cooking. It is unknown in Sri lankan cooking. The herb is known to Sanskrit authors as "rasumari"; where "ras" is probably related to "dew" (as in "rasa"), and "mari" is related to "marine", or sea. Indian medicine uses it in hair products, tonics etc., and for "improving memory". The sinhala name is not well established. | |
| Rotula aquatica | Galhura | Pashanabheda | seppunerinji | Image and write up | |
| Rubia cordifolia | vael-madata | - | mancitti | This is used medicinally, in a preparation known in Sri Lankan native medicine as "Pinda tel". It is an oil is prepared with the base of sesame oil, bees wax, waelmadata (Rubia cordifolia) etc. it is claimed to reduce localized pain and burning sensations. | |
| Rubus leucocarpus | Wal Rosa, val ro~sa | -) | - | - | |
| Ruta graveolens | Aruda | - | arvata, arvada | - | |
| Ruta graveolens | - | - | arvada | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane) | Uk, Ukgas | Sarkara | karumbu, karumpu |
Sugarcane species in Sri
Lanka by Nande Dharmawardene
Ethanol fuel in Sri Lanka see also N. Dharmawardene Sugar Tech, vol. 8 p 36-53 (2005) |
|
| Sacciopelsis interrupta | Beru | tall reedy grass | - | - | |
| Salacia prinoides, Salacia Reticulata | Kothala-himbutu | - | - | Claimed to lower blood sugar levels, reduces rheumatoid arthritis,
and used as a herbal tea. This plant can be used to treat allergies
due to sensitivity to pollen, skin ailments and bronchial asthmas.
Herbal teas
Japanese companies are claimed to be selling products based on this plant. However, caution must be excercised in judging these reports. See Claims reg. Fuji patents The Siddhalepa group in Sri Lanka also claims a patent for Kothala-Himbutu products. | |
| Salvadora persica | Maliththana | gudaphala- | opa, uka | - | |
| Santalum album | Sudu Handun | chandana- | cantanam | - | |
| Sapindus emarginatus | Penela | phenila- | puvamkottai | - | |
| Saraca asoca | Asoka, Diya ratambala | Ashoka | asoka,asoka pattai | - | |
| Saraca Indica | Diya Ratmal | - | asoka pattai | - | |
| Sarcocephalus cordatus | Piya | - | - | - | |
| Scaevolas Koenigii, S. Takkada (rice-paper plant) | Thakkada | - | - | - | |
| Schleichera oleosa, Schleichera trijuga (Lac tree, Ceylon Oak, Macassar-oil tree) | Koon, (Ko~n) කෝන් | Mukulakah, Rakthamrah | Puvatti-puvam, Pumarata, modakapulasu (Telegu) | Large tree, 15-32 m high dense spreading crown, leaves alternate, 2-4 pairs, elliptic The bark and oil are used. The bark is astringent, anti-pyretic, inflammation etc. The oil is bitter-sweet: stomachic, anthelmintic, purgative. Used for burns, acne, dermotherapy. - | |
| Scleria oryzoides | Pothu-pan, Pothukola, Pothuhara | - | Poththu ? | - | Scleria tesselata | Wel karawu, Vel karavu | - | - | weed, waste locations Image |
| Semecarpus (semicarpus) gardneri, (marking nut tree) | Badulla | - | - | - | |
| Sesamum indicum (Sesame, gingilly) | Thala | Tila [तिल] | ellu, ella |
The sinhala name clearly comes from the Sanskrit which is also the source of
all north Indian names. The south indian languages (Kannada, Tamil, malayalam etc.) use
a form related to Ellu, as in Tamil. .
Etymology and Images This grain is used to make "Thala thel", or Gingelly/Gingilly Oil. This is a staple in the Jaffna (Jaapanaya) and other Tamil-Hindu areas of Sri lanka. It is used for "oil baths" in the Tamil traditions, but the use of this oil is very limited in Sinhalese-Buddhist culture. However, an account in the Raajaratnaakaray show that "gingilly oil, cow ghee, civet fat (urulae thel) and camphor were burnt for 12 years in the temple by King Pandith Parakrama bahu. in the temple .Wijayasundaraaramaya, in Beligala. For medicinal uses and pharmocology, see Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology, vol 2 (no 2), p15-19 (2008) Sesame plant holds its importance from the ancient times. Sesamum indicum is commonly called sesame, Family: Pedaliaceae mainly cultivated for its seeds. Beside seeds the other parts of plant are also useful like flowers (cancer, alopecia, and constipation), roots (antifungal activity) and leaves (infant cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, and for urinary infections). Sesamin and sesamolin, two unique phytoconstituents isolated from seeds, possess excellent cholesterol-lowering effect in humans and prevents high blood pressure. They serve as a good source of copper, manganese and calcium which are effective in reducing pain, in osteoporosis and in reduction of swelling in rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidant action is also observed with seeds. In Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine the oil from seeds is used for massage and health treatments of the body. The present review encompasses all the important aspects of sesame. On the other hand, some negative indications for heart conditions have been noted. |
Sesbania grandiflora (Scarlet wisteria tree, Swamp pea, West Indian pea.) | Kathuru Murunga කතුරු මුරුංගා | अगस्ति (agasti), Varnari, Munipriya, Drigapalaka - | அகத்தி (akatthi)- | The word "murunga" and the hindi "munga" may have a common etymological origin. Click here for Sesbania Grandiflora Small soft-wood tropical tree, ~9 meters in height, with large pink - or white flowers. The flowers are hermaphroditic pollinated by birds; the leaves are 20-25 cm long with oblong leaflets. Used as a fodder in south Asia, particularly for dry season feeding of cattle and goats. Commonly grown on paddy bunds, and around gardens or cropping fields for its nitrogen contribution. The sparse canopy of S. grandiflora casts relatively little shade, hence suitable close to sun-loving crops and gardens. S. grandiflora grows fast and used as an annual green manure crop. The wood is too light to be good firewood. The leaves, seed pods and flowers are eaten as "maellung" (cooked salad) in Sri Lanka. Claims that it contains 25-30% crude protein have not been confirmed. Various parts of Sesbania grandiflora have been used in the Indian system of medicine, in particular, the leaves of S. grandiflora are used in Ayurveda for the treatment of epileptic fits. The triterpene containing fraction of S. grandiflora exhibits a wide spectrum of anticonvulsant profile and anxiolytic activity. |
| Shorea robusta | Sal | Saala | Kungkiliyam, Chaalamban | SAALAPANA (Chalampan) Salgasweva ( Chalampaikkulam) Saalakaenna (Chalampakerni) Salaavatha (Chilaw) | |
| Shorea stipularis | Nawada, Navada | - | - | - | |
| Sida periplocifolia | Vilvae~ra විල්වෑර | - | - | - | |
| Sida rhombifolia (Arrowleaf sida, Indian hemp) | kotikan baebila, babila "bevila" (common Sinhala name for Sida varieties) |
naagabala, mahabala | kurunthotti | Sida rhombifolia is an Ayurvedic herb, known also as "Gajabalaa",or gajapalaa.
It is a very small perennial plant. Leaves, stem, bark and roots are usable parts.- According toDymock, Warden, Hooper: Pharmacographia Indica (vol. I, pp. 206-207) : Sida carpinifolia, Sida cordifolia, Sida rhombifolia, Sida spinosa, Malvaceae. The plants belonging to this genus are known in Sanskrit by the general name Bala. Five kinds of Bala are mentioned in by Sanskrit medical writers under the name of Pancha-bala, viz., Bala, Nāgabala, Mahabala, Atibala and Rajabala. The Hindus regard the roots of the different species of Sida as cooling, astringent and tonic; they prescribe them in nervous and urinary diseases, and in fever. The root bark is beaten up with milk and sugar, and aromatics and stimulants are sometimes added. (For original prescriptions, see Dutt's "Hindu Materia Medica," p. 121.) In the Concan the leaves of S. cordifolia (Chikana) with other cooling leaves are applied in ophthalmia; the root-juice is used to promote the healing of wounds, and the juice of the whole plant pounded with a little water is given in 1/4 seer doses for gonorrhoea. The root of S. carpinifolia (Tupkaria) is applied with sparrow's dung to burst boils. The Mohammedans consider Bala to be aphrodisiac. Ainslie notices several species of Sida, and the uses to which they are applied by the Hindus. The author of the Bengal Dispensatory, after a trial of the roots of Sida carpinifolia, was unable to satisfy himself as to its febrifuge action, but it was found to promote perspiration, to increase the appetite, and to act as a useful bitter tonic. In Goa the Portuguese value it as a diuretic, especially in rheumatic affections; they also use it as a demulcent in gonorrhoea. In Pudukota the plant of S. humilis, Willd., is ground with onions and administered with for gonorrhoea. Its Tamil name is Pelambaci. S. rhombifolia is called in Australia "Queensland Hemo," and in N.-S. Wales "Lucerne," as cows are very fond of it. It is also called "Jelly-leaf" on account of its mucilaginous nature. In the various species of Sida we have demulcent and emollient properties combined with bitterness. |
|
| Silybum marianum (Silymarin, Milk Thistle) | rath-Ikiriya ? | - | - | Introduced palt, rarely, up-country. The seeds are used medicinally. hepato-protective herb containing Favanoids, polyphenols etc., but not established via relaible experiments. Image Wikipedia |
|
| Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) | Godawavletiya, Godavavletiya ?- | - | - | Image, Jojoba tree | |
| Solanum indica, s. indicum | Thibbatu, batu | brahati- | karimulli, mulli | Thibbotuvaeva (Mullikulam, Mulliyan)
BatuvaevKanda (Mullikulam Malai)
Thibbotuwala (Mulliyawalai)
Batumunna (Kumulamunai) Used in many herbal and ayurvedic medications, herbal teas, for coughs, fever etc. Comonent of the herbal tonic Dashamoola arishtaya | |
| Solanum melongena | Elabatu | -bhantaki | valutalai | - | |
| Solanum melongena, Sol. macrocarpon Brinjals, Egg Plant) | Wambotu, Vambatu, Vambotu | Vatimgana | kattari | There is a sinhalese saying, "Ata wambotu, nava hungan dunnaa vaagei", i.e., "eight brinjals, but nine taxes to pay". This is based on a story about a man went to sell eight brinjals in a village where there were nine headmen. He had to give each headmen a brinjal, and his basket to the ninth, just to get permission to enter the village.(John Seneviratne's book of proverbs). | |
| Solanum mauritianum | Wal varaa | - | - | Dumpalaava (Thumpalai) | |
| Solanum seaforthianum | Wal Thibbbatu | - | - | - | |
| Solanum surattense (Yellow berried nightshade) | kauvael batu, kahabatu | - | nitiktika, kantankattirai | Used in many herbal and ayurvedic medications, herbal teas, for coughs, fever, asthma, rheumatism (leaf); sore throat (fruit) etc. Component of the herbal tonic Dashamoola arishtaya | |
| Solanum trilobatum | Vael Tibbotu | alarka- | tutuvalai, thuthulai | - | |
| Solanum xanthocarpum; synon: S. Surattense, S. virginianum, S. jacquini | katuwael Batu | nidigdhika- kantakari | kantankattiri | See under S. Surattense | |
| Solemostemon rohindifolius | Innala | - | - | - | |
| Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonaratia caseolaris (mangrove apple) | Kirala | - | ucittakarai | Irlaikkulam, KuriKadduvan, Kilali | |
| Sophora tomentosa | Moodu Murunga | - | - | - | |
| Spilanthes acmella,Acmella oleracea (Tootache plant) | Akmella | Pipulka- | Akki-rakaram | Images and write up It is used for toothache. Chewing the leaves, or applying a tincture of the flowers or the fresh juice to the gums, when both pain and swelling are relieved. | Spinifex squarrosus | Maha Raavana Raevula | - | - | - | Spondias magnifera | Sarana | - | - | see under Adampan |
| Stachytarpheta dichotoma | Sudu balunakuta | - | - | There is also a Vil nakuta - | |
| Stachytarpheta mutabilis | maha balunakuta | - | - | - | |
| Stachytarpheta urticaefolia | Balunakuta | - | - | - | |
| Stemonurus apicalis | Uruhonda | - | - | - | |
| Sterculia balanghas | Nava, Nawa | - | - | - | |
| Stereospermum chelonoids | Palol | - | ambu | used in the medicinal tonic Dashamoola aristaya, see S. Sauveolens | |
| Stereospermum suaveolens, S. personatum, Bignonia Suaveolens (trumpet tree, snake tree ) |
Palol | Paataala, kaamavRntA, kRSNavRntA |
patirimaram |
Images for Palol and pharmacy.
Middle-sized flowering tree. Plant parts are used in the Sri Lankan " Dashamoola Arishtaya", and in Indian medicine. It is used to treat inflammations, vomiting, dyspepsia, flatulence, asthma, fevers, anasarca, "diseases of the blood". A decoction of the roots is used to treat intermittent and puerperal fevers, inflammatory chest affections, etc. The ethanol extract of the bark is found to show Antihyperglycemic and Antioxidant Activity. |
|
| Streblus asper Sandpaper tree, Siamese rough bush, toothbrush tree ; (Salvadora persica is also known as "tooth brush tre) |
Nitul, Gaeta Nitul, Netul | Shakhotaka, Saakhota, pathrollekhatharu | pira, piraay, Parai-maram | (
Urumpirai is a Village in the Jaffna peninsula. Twigs are used as toothbrushes. The tree bark ("khoi" in Thailand) is used for paper making. The Buddhist texts and official records before the twentieth century in Thailand are known as khoi books (c.f., Sanskrit name: patrollekhataru - i.e., lekhana on pathra). The paper is durable even in high-humidity climates. |
|
| Strobilanthes calycina | kaha Nelu | - | - | - | |
| Strobilanthes hookeri | Sudu Nelu | - | - | - | |
| Strobilanthes pulcherrima, S.-viscosa | Nelu | - | - | - | |
| Strychnos nux-vomica (Snake wood tree) | Kaduru, Goda kaduru | kalshti, kupilu, Vishamushti | yetti, ettiu | Kaduruthuduva (Kanchirankuda),
Kadurumotte (Kanchuramoddai)
Kadurugoda (Kandarodai) Contains the strongly poisonous alkaloid Strychnine and Brucine. It is used in Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicine, as well as for suicidal portions etc. Images and write up |
|
| Strychnos potatorum | Inginiya | kataka- | Theatta, terran kottai | Inginidoova (Thettativu) Gaetakuliya (Tettakkuli) Inginiyagala | |
| Swietenia macrophylla | Burutha | - | tettankottai | Kaluburuthamaduva (Kollamarutamadu) Buruthamaduva (Maruthamadu) Buruthoya (Maruthodai) | |
| Symphylum officinale (Knitbone) | - | - | Traditonal non-Sri lankan medicinal herb and weed. Used in healing bones, and as an ointment for dry skin. It has poisonous alkaloids. It grows in Eurasia and rarely found, or unknown in Sri lanka. | ||
| Syzygium fergusoni | Val Karabu, Wal karabu | - | - | - | |
| Syzygium jambos | Jambu | - | perunaval, campai | Dambakolathota (Kankesanthurai) Dambakolapatune (Sambilithuai) | |
| Syzygium makul | Alubo | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes | |
| Tabernaemontana divaricata | Watusudda, Vathusudda | nandivrksah- | adukkunandiyavattai | - | |
| Tamarindus indica | Siyambala | amlika, tintrini, tintili | puli, puliyamaram | This name of the tree occurs in many place names. Mahasiyambala vaevkanda (Paddiapuliyankulammalai) Mahasiyambala weva (Periyapuliyankulam) Siyambala is an important part of Sri Lankan food preparations, often replacing Goraka (Garcinia cambogia, also known as Malabar tamarind).in many dishes. It is used in chutneys, sauces, relishes and curries. It has been a part of folk medicine from ancient times, with Tamarind being prescribed for use instead of Salt in Sanskrit texts which also claim that Krshna, Vishnu and Indra favoured the shade of this tree, Today, the tree is used in Bonsai gardens as well. The pulp of the fruit contains tannins, saponins, sesquiterpenes, alkaloids and phlobatamins. Extracts are active against gram+ and gramnegative bacteria, against Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi, and against Staphylococcus aureus. It contains antioxidents and phenolic components such that Tamarind may be an important source of cancer chemopreventive natural products in the tropics. See Y. Sudjaroen et al. Food and Chemical Toxicology Volume 43, Issue 11, November 2005, Pages 1673-1682 and references therein It is a common for health remedy in Asia. It is used as decoction for the treatment of gastric and/or digestion problems,as a laxative for stomach disorders, general body pain, jaundice, yellow fever and as blood tonic and skin cleanser. Leaves are used as a herbal infusion for malarial fever, the fruit juice as an anti-septic, and scurvy and even cough cure. Tamarind has been found to lower serum cholesterol and blood sugar levels (in animal studies). traditional medicine write up Thus traditional remedicinal uses are:: Anthelminthic (expels worms), antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, asthma, astringent, bacterial skin infections (erysipelas), boils, chest pain, cholesterol metabolism disorders, colds, colic, conjunctivitis (pink eye), constipation (chronic or acute), diabetes, diarrhea (chronic), dry eyes, dysentery (severe diarrhea), eye inflammation, fever, food preservative, food uses (coloring), gallbladder disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, gingivitis, hemorrhoids, indigestion, insecticide, jaundice, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), leprosy, liver disorders, nausea and vomiting (pregnancy-related), paralysis, poisoning (Datura plant), rash, rheumatism, saliva production, skin disinfectant/sterilization, sore throat, sores, sprains, sunscreen, sunstroke, swelling (joints), urinary stones, wound healing (corneal epithelium) |
|
| Tectona grandis (Teak, Indian Oak) | The~kka (~ signify long sound) | Saaka, Sabarasaara, Kolaphala, bardaru, bhumisah, dwardaru, kharchchada | thekku | The sanskrit "Shaaka" → "Thaaka" → "The~kka" in Sinhala | |
| Tephrosia purpurea (wild indigo) | Kathurupila, Pila | sarapunkha- | kavali, kolluk-kay-velai | Plant of the pea family. the leaves and seeds contain tephrosin, which paralyzes fish. Larger doses are lethal to fish, but mammals and amphibians are unaffected. It is used in sinhlala orthopedic medicine. Kathurupila is claimed to be used in the treatment of glandular swellings, spleen diseases, cancerous tumors, enlargement of liver and spleen, diabetes and skin diseases, since centuries in south Asia. Images and write up | |
| Terminalia arjuna | Kumbuk | kakubha- | maruthu, marutu |
Place names: Rankumbukka (Sainthamaruthu) Image and writeup Bark is used as cardiac tonic. Powdered bark-decoction is used in South-Asian medicine to treat heart diseases, bone fractures, skin diseases, polyuria, white discharge, giddiness, fever, leprosy, worms, excessive thirst, wounds, diarrhoea and intrinsic hemorrhage. Fruits used externally to heal chronic ulcers. This may be a component of Maruthu Neer, a herbal concoction used for ceremonial bathing to celebrate "Puthandu" (Tamil New Year). |
|
| Terminalia bellirica, T. Bellerica, (Beleric, bastard myrobalan, Belliric Myrobalan ) |
Bulu | Bibhitaki, Bhaira | tanri, tanikkay, Pulu |
Place names: Mahabulukanda (Periyapullumalai)
Buluweva (Tandikkulam) The nuts were used as dice in ancient times, from when the Sanskrit name "kali". It is part of the "Aralu, Bulu, Nelli combination of Tripala , a mild laxative used in S. Asia. There are tanning agents in the crushed bark and fruit. It is a major constituent of other Ayurvedic Tonics, sinhala "kashaya" etc. It is included in cough mixtures, sore throat preparations etc. The crushed dried fruit is available in tablet form and sold as alternative medicine in the west. Images and notes. |
|
| Terminalia catappa (tropical Almond) | Kottan, Kottamba | tailaphala- | nattuvadumai, nattu-vadam< | Kottandoova (Kottantivu)
Kottangolla (Kottanchole ) The tree may grow to 30 meters, with large ovoid glossy dark green leaves which change into orange and red when about to fall. The "false" nuts are inside a hard shell. Tropical Almond |
|
Terminalia chebula
| Aralu |
Haritaki - |
kadukkai |
.an ever green medium sized to big sized tree. The fruits are the most
important product.
It part of the "Aralu, Bulu, Nelli combination of ,Thripala
a mild laxative
used in S. Asia. The are strong tanning agents (Cherubulinic acid, tannic acid,
Gallic acid) in the crushed fruit and bark. It is widely used in south
asian medicine in the treatment
of diarrhea, dysentery, heart-burn, flatulence, dyspepsia, liver and spleen
disorders. It is a major constituent of other Ayurvedic Tonics, sinhala
Kashaayas. The dried crushed fruit is available now in tablet form in the west
as part of herbal medicine.
Images
| | |
| Terminalia chebula | Hari-taka | haritaki- | katukkay | - | |
| Thespesia populnea | SOORIYA, Suriya, Gam sooriya | Plaksa, kapitana, parisa | puvarasu, Poovarasu | Sooriyaweva (Poovarasankulam) Sooriyadoova (Poovarasantivu) Kuda-sooriyaweva (Sinnapuwarasankulam) Kanda-uda-sooriyaweva (Kanthaudaiyarpuvarasankulam) | |
| Tinospora cordifolia, Cocculus cordifolius (Indian Tinaspora) | Rasakinda | amrta, Guruchi- | seenthil, cintil, Shindil-kodi, Amirthavalli, Kunali | Rasakindala (Amirthakaly) This plant is highly valued in'Sri lankan traditional medications. A well known preparation is known as "Dhathimodaka". Unfortunately, double-blind evaluations of these medications have not yet been done. Images and write up | |
| Toddalia aculeata | Kudu Miris | - | milagaranai | - | |
| Trianthema monogyna | Sarana | - | - | - | |
| Tribulus terrestris (Puncturevine, Caltrop, Yellow Vine, and Goathead) | Gokatu, Nerenchi | Goksura,Gokantaka, Svadanstra etc, | sembu nerenchi, neruncil, nerenjikeeraai | Prostrate vine - generally less than 2.5 cm high, spreading to 1.5 M or more depending on climate. This is used in the traditional " Dashamoola arishtaya" of Sri Lanka, a concoction containing 10 ingredients. Used as a remedy for impotence, perhaps by increase of testosterone etc but not firmly established).. The active chemical in T. terrestris is likely to be protodioscin (PTN) The botanical name identification may have some problems, as indicated by Gunatillaka and Sotheeswaran: J. Natn. Sci. Coun. Sri Lanka vol 8, p 11-29 (1980) [Garcinia morella has also been given as Gokatu] pictures | |
| Trichosanthes cucumerina, Tr. anguina | Pathola, Dummalla | - | Pudulankaai | A type of Gourde and vegetable. A variety of Pathola is used with other herbs in treating Rheumatoid arthritis (known in Sinhala as Gambheera Vatha Raktha) in Sinhala herbal medicine and Ayurveda. The decoction contains Dummaella (Trichosanthes cucumerina), Katukarosana (Picrorrliza kurrooa), Asparagus roots (Asparagus racemosus), etc. with Eranda oil (oil from ricinus communis seeds). Image | |
| Trigonella foenum (Fenugreek) | Uluhaal, uluhal | Methika, Peetbeeja | Vendayam | This a small plant in the Pea family, and the plant as well as the
seed are used in cooking. The seed is used in pickles and curry powders.
Used as condiment in S. Asian cooking. Fenugreek auguments lactation of nursing mothers, shown to lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein in human patients and experimental models of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Fenugreek seeds reduce metabolic symptoms of type-1 and type-2 diabetes by reducing serum glucose and improving glucose tolerance. Fenugreek in ayurveda |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Urandra apicalis | Uruhonda, Urukan | - | - - - - | See: Gunatilleke, I.A.U.N. and Gunatilleke, C.V.S. 1991. Threatened woody endemics of the wet lowlands of Sri Lanka and their conservation. Biological Conservation 55(1): 17-36. |
| Urena lobata | Eapala | - | ottuttutti, ottatti | -- |
| Uraria Picta | Pusvaenna, Pusvenna | Prushniparni- | - | It is an annual woody erect herb or under-shrub with edible seeds. Herbal component of Dashamoola Arishtaya in India but not in Sri Lanka |
| Utricularia stellaris | Banduru ? | - | kutapaci, Kattuppaci | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Vaccinium symplocifolium (-berry) | Boralu | - | - | Vaccinium sp. Patana (near World's End, Horton Plains), Low shrub: obovate leaves- |
| Vateria copallifera | Hal | - | Vellai-kungilian- | We have not been able to find a picture of this tree. If you
have an image, please e-mail it to place.names@yahoo.com. The bark of this tree has been the subject of significant chemical and pharmocological studies in Sri lankan Universities. Ratnasooriya et al (2005) state that: "An aqueous bark extract of Vateria copallifera showed marked sedative activity, which supports the therapeutic effects claimed by Sri Lankan traditional physicians." Geewananda et al (2001) claimed "Another antibacterial polyphenol, copalliferol B, from Vateria copallifera". Sultan bawa et al had, in studies done in 1980s claimed that "A new resveratrol trimer, copalliferol A, isolated from Vateria copallifera, has been shown to have the structure (1) on the basis of u.v., i.r., 1H, and 13C n.m.r. spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and biosynthetic considerations. The bark is sometimes used in toddy making to slow down fermentation. | Ventilago madraspatana | Yakkada Vael | - | curulpattai,pappili | - |
| Ventilago madraspatana | - | - | pappili | - |
| Vernonia anthelmintica (iron weed, purple fleebane) | SanniNaasa, krumisatru | Simaraaji, Avalguja, Vaakushi, Aranyajirak | kattuccirakam, canni nayakam | A stout, much branched annual with
cylindrical, striate, finely pubescent stems. 60 --90cm tall;
leaves implc, alternate without stipules, 6. 5~cm long, 2. 5~ cm broad,
lanceolate or elliptic lanceolate, much tapering to base,
acute, coarsely and shiny. Medicinal Plant.
The name "Krumisatru", used by sinhalese vedamahaththayas ("native doctors")
is from Malayalam.
The seeds of Vemonia anthelmintica are of well known in Sanskrit Materia Medica as a medicine for white leprosy (leuco-derma), and many skin diseases. It is referred to as an anthelmintic, but is not significantly used as such, except with a number of other medicines. |
| Vernonia cinerea | Monara Kudumbiya | Dandotpala, Devasasha, Gandhavalli, vishvadeva, sahadev | neyccitti, puvamkurundal, sahadevi | Thoppigala, Kuda-Dimbulgala (Kudumpimalai). Juice is used against insect bite, skin probelms etc. |
| Averrhoa carambola (star fruit) | Kamaranga, kaamaranka, carambola | - | - | Origin in he Malayan region- Used in Orthpedic medications in Sri lanka |
| Vernonia Zeylanica | Pupula | - | - | Medicinal, Fractures,Eczema |
| Vetiveria zizanioides | Savandara | - | vettiver, kuruver | Medicinal: Oedema,Anorexia,Urinary diseases |
| Vigna marina | Karal Leema | - | -- | - |
| Vigna radiata (green gram) | Mung, Moong | मासपर्णी Masaparni | karumpayir | see also Phaseolus aureus Roxb., Phaseolus mungo auct. etc. Valuabale food with protein content for vegetarians |
| Vigna unguiculata (cow pea, blackeye pea) | Mae karal | - | Kaaraamani or Karamani Payir or Thatta Payir - | There are many species of pea, or "mae". Vanduru mae, val mae etc. sorting out pea species |
| Virikta | Vilanda vaenna | - | - | - |
| Vitex altissima | Milla | - | mayilatinocci, mayilainochi | - |
| Vitex negundo | Nika | Nirgundi | Ven nocci, Nochi | Giranikke (killinochchi) Nikamotte (Nochchimoddai) Nikagasmunna (Punochchimunai) Nikawaratiya | Vitex pinnata | Milla | - | - | - |
| Vitex trifolia | Nika | - | nir-nochi | See Giranikka, Kilinochchi |
| Vitis Vinifera | Midi | Mudrika | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Walsura antidysentricum,Nerium zeylanicum | Wal Idda, Wal Idda, sudu Idda, Gal Idda | - | valsura | Endemic in Sri lanka. The name Walidda derived from the sinhala name. Five petaled white jasmine-like flower, often used in Buddhist worship. Image The plant is used in Kaedum-Bindun (othopedic) medications. |
| Walsura trifolia | Kiri Koon, ක්රි කෝන් | - | cattuvakku | Trees up to 15 m tall. Images |
| Wattakaka volubilis | Anguna | - | kodippalai | - |
| Wedelia chinensis | Ranwan Keekirindi- | - | manjalkarilamkanni | - |
| Withania somnifera | Amunkara, aswaganda, Ashwagandha | Ashwagandha- | Amukkrang Kilangu, amukkira | This is a herb (nightshade family) used in an Ayurvedic preparation
known as
Ashwaganda Choorana, used for Parkinsons desease (Kampa vatha in Sinhala),
stress relief, aphrodisiac, etc.
This is now available as capsules in the west and in Japan under western patents,
often under the name "Ashwagandha". Scientific confirmation of its efficacy
requires
more detailed double-blind tests which have not been carried out. However, it is
cheaper for western drug companies to market it as an alternative remedy and
avoid the important clinical tests.
Not to be used by high-blood-pressure
patients. |
| Woodfordia fruticosa | Malitha | - | velakkai, kattaddi | A straggling shrub, about 3.6m high with long, arching branches, a cinnamon brown bark shredding off in fibres- leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, sessile, 7.5 cm long, narrowly ovate-lanceol |
| Wrightia antidysenterica | Pethi Idda, Val Idda | kutaja | Vet palai ? | used in Bonsai |
| Wrightia religiosa | Idda Mal | kutaja | - | - |
| Wrightia Zelanica | Idda Mal, Kelinda ? | - | - | - |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Xanthium indicum | Urukossa ? | - | peymati,pirakatti | - |
| Xanthium strumarium | Uru Kossa | - | marhe-matta, marul-umathan | - |
| Xanthochymus pictorius, Xanthocymus pictorius | Kolon gaha, Kollan gaha | - | - | The name "Kolon" is mistakenly used in "street etymologies"
trying to `"expalin" the place name "Kolomba" (Colombo). However,
the name Kolomba has little to do with the Kolon tree, or the
"Kola-amba" tree (a type of Mango). The name
originated from being a "suburb of Kolontota". ("near Kolon-thota").
"Kolon-thota" itself refers to the exit point of the
river Kelani where there has been
an ancient capital since pre-Buddhist times, mentioned in the
Pali chronicles.
The usage Kolon-(asa)maba
indicates suburbs around Kalyaana-pura (modern Kelaniya).
The Portuguese took over the sinhala place-name "Colomba"
and redefined it as "Colombo".
Xanthochymus pictorius, Image, leaves, flower and fruits The latin name of the tree is given as Zanthocymus pictorius in B. Clough's entry (1892) |
| Xylocarpus granatum | Mal Kadol, Mutti kadol | - | - | rare mangrove |
| Xylopia championii | Dat Kaetiya | - | - | - |
| Xylopia nigricans | Heen Kenda, Heen Kaenda | - | - | - |
| Xyris indica | Ran Manissa, Rata Mota | - | - | Medicinal: Ring worm,Laprosy,Itch |
| Botanical Names, (English) | Sinhala | Sanskrit (Pali) | Tamil | Toponyms, Notes |
| Zanonia indica | Val Rasakinda | - | - | - |
| Zeuxine regia | Iruraja | - | - | - |
| Zeuxine regia | Iruraja | - | - | - |
| Zingiber officinale | Inguru | ardraka- | injzi, chukku | - |
| Ziziphus jujuba | Massan, Kaekuru | badara- | ilandai, Nari-ilantai | KAEKURUVILA (Koandaavil) Kekuruwatte (Vatharawathai) |
| Ziziphus mauritiana | Debara - | - | munnatimatu, pallavaparunicceti | - |
| Ziziphus napeca | Yak Eraminiya | - | - | - |
| Ziziphus rugosa | Maha Eraminiya | - | chusai | - |
| Ziziphus xylopyrus | Kukuru | - | katalcirai | - |
| Ziziphus xylopyrus | - | - | mullutuppai | - |
| Zornia diphylla | - | - | cirupalatai | - |
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Chandraprabha Vati | It contain Thippili (Piper longum), Gammiris (Pipper nigram), Ginger (Zingber offcinale), Kaluduru (Cyperus rotundus) etc. is taken orally (e.g., as two tablets), twice a day. It is a diuretic. |
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Dashamoola aristaya, Dasamul arista, Dashamula Tonic |
It is a herbal preparation and contains about 63 herbs, plums, juggery (kitul molasses), honey and water.
The name "Dashamoola"
comes from the fact that it has ten main component herbs (dasa in Sinhala is ten). The ingredients are
fermented for a month in a barrel. The result is a sweet wine (arishta) of exceptional
taste. The medicine is claimed to have anti - inflammatory properties, and to be a calming agent. It is used
for Back Pain/ Sciatica, other types of rheumatism, and many other ailments .
The prescribed dosage is usually one tablespoon, twice daily, or sometimes one
oz. before meals
In Sri Lanka it contains, 1. Aswenna - Alysicarpus vaginalis 2. Polpala - Aerva lanata 3. Ela batu - Solanum melongena 4. Katuwel batu - Solanum xanthocarpum 5. Heen Nerenchi (gokatu) - Tribulus terristris 6. Thotila - Oroxylum indicum 7. Beli fruit - Aegle marmelos 8. Eth demata - Gmelina arborea 9. Palol - Stereospermum suaveolens 10. Heen medi - Premna integrifolia (premna spinosa) Dashamoola in India is a concoction of the roots of Aegle marmelos, Gmelina arborea, Oroxylum indicum, Clerodendrum phlomidis, Stereospermum chelonoides, Desmodium gangeticum, Uraria picta, Solanum indicum, Solanum surattense and Tribulus terrestris. It can contain many other roots even upto a 100, even though the name is "Dashamoola", (or dasamoola, see under Dashamoola) and varies from region to region in India. Uncontrolled fermentaion may lead to the presence of harmful alcohols (e.g., methanol). |
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Peyaava, Peyava, Peyawa, Pe~ya~va (where ~ indicates elongation of sound) | A soluble, standardized commercial form of Peyava is sold under the name Samahan by Link Natural products. See under Samahan. remedy for colds, fever etc |
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Maellum, Maellum, Beheth Maellum, බෙහෙත් මැල්ලුම් Beheth Paste, beheth roti etc. | See Beheth Mallum etc., for Traditional Sinhalese Orthopaedic treatments, by Ediriweera and Grerub, 2009 |
| Neelayadi Thailaya, Mahaa Neelayaadi thailaya |
Oil propsed for head massage and hair coloraton in the Indian sub-continet.
It is said to contain:
|
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Seetharama, or Seetha-Rama pills | Small herbal pills given for fever, cold etc., and the herbal mixture seems to vary with different practitioners, and contains ingredients similar to various pe~ya~vas.. |
| Samahana, a commercial product (link Natural products) similar to Peyaava | Peyava (Pe~ya~va, where ~ implies elongation) is a preparation containing fourteen different herbal ingredients including spices and condiments which are used in daily culinary preparations. The main ingredients of Pe~y~va are (as in Pas-panguva) are: Pathpadagam (Oldenlandia herbacea Linn.,Mollugo cerviana ), ginger, coriander, katuwelbatu (Solanum virginianum), pepper, sometimes cinnamon, liquorice. If "venivael-gaeta" (Coscinium fenestratum )is added to the Pe~ya~va, the preparation becomes bitter but it claimed to reduce fever. Used for colds, fevers etc |
| Herbal Preparation | Details |
| Tripala, Tripala Kawatha, Thipal kasaaya, Tipal තිපල් |
This is even listed (page 211) in B. Clough's classic Sinhala-English dictionary of the
19th century. It contains Aralu (Terminalia chebula), Bulu (Terminalia belirica), and Nelli (Phyllanthus embelica) cooked together. regarded as a colon cleanser, and digestive aid to regulate obesiety. This is taken orally, two tablespoons, one to three times a day. It is also commercially available as a tablet. Nelli is extremely rich in Vitamin C. The preparation has a mild laxative action and releases the heavy feeling after excessive eating. |
