Abstract
In the present study, distribution and abundance of Munronia pinnata (Wall.) Theob. in Sri Lanka were explored in 6 provinces, 7 districts, 68 Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) and 395 Grama Niladari (GN) areas. Fifty three GN areas were identified as M. pinnata abundant areas. In 217 GN areas, the plant is found in small scale and in 65 GN areas it was rarely found. M. pinnata was not found in 8 DSDs. Ten new localities were found and three of them were in the wet zone. The highest diversity was found in Monaragala and Matale districts. Populations well adopted for a range of climatic conditions were observed in Madulla, Nilgala, Warakapola, Ritigala and Haldumulla. Monaragala, Wellawaya, Mathurata, Meemure and Kithulpe were identified as unique populations for conservation. Monaragala, Badulla and Matale appear to be the most suitable districts for commercial cultivation of M. pinnata. This is the first record of an extensive systematic survey on the distribution of M. pinnata in Sri Lanka.Key words: Munronia pinnata; Systematic survey; Meliaceae; Conservation; Cultivation; Medicinal plants.DOI: 10.3329/bjpt.v18i1.7837Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 18(1): 39-49, 2011 (June)
Highlights
The Genus Munronia Wight. (Meliaceae), comprising 13-15 species, is naturally distributed in southern China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Java, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines (Qi et al, 2003)
Monaragala, Badulla and Matale appear to be the most suitable districts for commercial cultivation of M. pinnata. This is the first record of an extensive systematic survey on the distribution of M. pinnata in Sri Lanka
Island wide survey carried out using a questionnaire revealed that out of the 68 Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) considered, M. pinnata could be naturally found in only 38 DSD divisions in Sri Lanka
Summary
The Genus Munronia Wight. (Meliaceae), comprising 13-15 species, is naturally distributed in southern China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Java, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and the Philippines (Qi et al, 2003). Five species of Munronia are restricted to tropical Asia, and subtropical China, up to 1800 m and in Sri Lanka up to 700 m from the mean sea level (Dassanayake et al, 1995; Peng and Bartholomew, 2008). According to the literature available, plants of M. pinnata with an array of variable phenotypic characters (3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 leaflets types) exist in various locations in Sri. Lanka (Jayaweera, 1982; Dassanayake et al, 1995). According to Hooker (1874), M. pinnata was an abundant and widely distributed plant in Sri Lanka in early days. There are over 32 written recipes including ‘Sudarshana Churna’,
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