Botanical Overview
Stemonoporus affinis is a species in the Dipterocarpaceae family. The dipterocarp family (Dipterocarpaceae) includes large tropical trees with simple, alternate leaves and prominent stipules. The fruits are nuts with two or more enlarged wing-like sepals that aid in wind dispersal. These trees dominate many Southeast Asian rainforest canopies and produce valuable timber and resins. Phytochemical data for this species are limited at present.
General Description
It is a tree endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known only from the Knuckles Range. It is a small, gregarious lower canopy tree growing in remaining patches of submontane wet evergreen forest. The species was first described by George Henry Kendrick Thwaites in 1854.
Geographic Distribution
Stemonoporus affinis has been recorded in , and Sri Lanka.
Active Compounds
Phytochemical research has identified 2 compounds in this species: betulin, betulinic-acid.
Research Status
Although this species has documented phytochemical constituents, its ethnobotanical and clinical documentation remains incomplete. The limited documentation available for this species represents an opportunity for ethnobotanical research.