Browsing by Author "Ramanayake, R.M.D.N."

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    Taxonomic Status of Rhipsalis baccifera in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Srilanka, 2011) Ramanayake, R.M.D.N.; Alwis, L.M.H.R.; Rajapaksha, R.
    Note: See the PDF Version As a part of the conservation, domestication of wild plant as an ornament is fascinating. Rhipsalis baccifera (Muller) Stearn has high demand as an ornamental plant and it is used as potted plant, house plant or in ornamental gardens (Bricker, 1996). Apart from their ornamental value, R. baccifera has value as a powerful ayurvedic medicine which is still used in indigenous community. It is generally known as "Nawahandi" and often used for fractures and dislocations (Department of Ayurvadic, 2004). Furthermore, it is goodmedicine for chest complains, body cleansing and stomach complains (Niue, 2009).Although the latest revision of Flora of Ceylon Vol. XIII (Weerasooriya, 1999) recorded two sub species of R. baccifera as sub species baccifera and sub species mauritiana in Sri Lanka, the available information is not strong to distinguish these two sub species. The herbarium specimens at the National Herbarium, Peradeniya also do not either provide evidences satisfactorily or strong support to distinguish these two sub species. Therefore this study was carried out to evaluate the taxonomic status of the native species Rhipsalis baccifera.