Dummala, traditional resin used in Sri Lanka
DUMMALA - දුම්මල
Dummala is not a pure chemical compound. It is a mixture of oleo-terpenes,
dried cellulose-lignin (dead wood). If dug out from the
ground, it could contain peat-like carbonaceous organic matter.
There are many types of "dummala" or resins, gums etc., from natural
sources
used in Sri Lanka. One type is
dug up from fields, and this is fossilized plant material. It is powdered and
used to make flares in "Thovil exorcisms" and processions etc. It can also be ground
into a fine powder, purified and used as a preserving varnish.
This type of `dummala' is sometimes known as `bim-dummala'.
Dummala dissolved in oil is to preserve (protect) puskola (Palm leaf) writings,
as it could be used as a varnish.
The word `dummala' itself is used used for dried resin-like gums from the tree:
Dummala, or Shorea oblongifolia (Dipterocarpacea), endemic
to Sri Lanka. The wood itself
is resinous and when burnt, produces the `dummala smell' etc.
The word `dummala' may have its origin in the `smokey fire' produced on burning
the wood, or the powdered resin. The Sanskrit name `dhummala' is similar.
- There are several tree species in SL forests providing gums and resins:
- Resin from davu (Anogeissus latifolia),
- Resin from hik (Linnea coromandelica)
- Resin from gammalu () - widely used in Sri Lanka to treat diabetes
- Resin from kaju (Anacardium occidentale) - cachew-locally as an adhesive
- Resin from kohomba gum (Azadiracta indica) - locally as an adhesive
- Resin from Kasa (Pinus caribaea) - Pine gum- raised in hilly-forest plantations, is exported.
Damar resins are produced by various species of dipterocarps. A detailed study
can be found in the work
of Kostermans- A handbook of the Dip... in Sri Lanka
Dorana oil, from dorana tree (Dipterocarpus glandulosus) is well known
This oil mixed with other organic substances was used to paint temple murals.
Resin from Kekuna (kaekuna) (Canarium zeylaicum) - the oleoresin is used as incense.
When distilled kekuna oleoresin yields phyllandrin which is exported.
The residue after distilling out the phylladrin is suitable for use as incense.
Dipterocarpus and Canarium species have been heavily cut down for timber in Sri Lanka.
Of the dipterocarps, according to Dr. Bharathi, a conservator of Forests, one tree per hectare greater than 120 centimeters in diameter can be found in natural forests from which
to extract damar resin.
see main page sinhala place-names website
see the main `botany-to-local names' website botany page