Saturday, December 31, 2016

බොල් හිඳ[Bol hinda] (Cyanotis cristata)

Common native herb grows in moist crevices or shallow soil on rock outcrops, roadside ditches, under trees and shrubs, thicket edges and near streams from sea level to about 1000 a.s.l.

Friday, December 30, 2016

සේරු[Seru] (Aidia gardneri)

An endemic tree occurs in wet and intermediate zone forests up to mid hills and some isolated hills in the dry lowlands such as Ritigala, Doluwa, Arankele, etc.  

Saturday, December 24, 2016

කුණු මී කරවලා[Kunu Mee Karawala]/මල් රදනකයා[Mal Radanakaya]/Flowery Wolf Snake(Lycodon osmanhilli)

An endemic Non venomous snake occurs in all parts of the island up to about 2000 m a.s.l. Rather common in urban and sub urban areas. It is found under flower pots, piles of stones, loose soil, cracks and crevices of walls and parapets in houses, stacked bricks and piles of woods. Flowery Wolf Snake is a nocturnal terrestrial snake and it feeds on geckos, other snakes, rodents, insects, etc. It is very aggressive snake especially at night and savagely bite when handling. When cornered it hides its head underneath the coil of its body and sometimes empty its bowels with a smell similar to rotten dead mice. Hence its Sinhalese name කුණු මී කරවලා. It is an oviparous snake and lays 8 to 10 eggs at one time. Flowery Wolf Snakes often enter human habitations and are killed on sight as many believes it as a venomous snake. Some authors considered Lycodon osmanhilli as a color variety of Lycodon aulicus

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Tetrataenium ceylanicum [Syn: Heracleum ceylanicum]

Locally common, critically endangered, endemic perennial herb found among grasses in Patanas of the upper montane zone at elevations between 2000 - 2700 m a.s.l.. Flowering from February to July.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Polygala macrolophos

An endemic herb occurs in shrubby open spaces and along jungle paths of wet lowlands to montane forests. Flowering from December to March. 

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Black Bittern/කළු මැටිකොකා[Kalu matikoka] ( Dupetor flavicollis[Ixobrychus flavicollis])

Rather rare breeding resident of lowland marshes, reedbeds and densely vegetated watersides areas, supplemented by winter migrants to lowlands and lower hills. Mainly a nocturnal bird though sometimes visiting the water's edge to do a little fishing during the day as well, skulking out from its day time impenetrable retreat, which is often inside a dense thicket. Black bittern feeds largely on fish but frogs and insects are also eaten. Breeding birds were observed in few occasions during the month of April in the dry zone. The nest is a small structure of twigs placed often on a overhanging tree above the water.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Thursday, December 15, 2016

කතුරු මුරුංගා[Katuru murumga]/Agati/Vegetable hummongbird (Sesbania grandiflora)

An introduced small tree probably native to the Indonesia. Widely cultivated at home gardens as an ornamental and mainly for its edible leaves and flowers. Varies parts of the tree are sometimes used medicinally.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

කුරුඳු [Kurundu]/Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum [Syn: Cinnamomum zeylanicum])

Common endemic plant occurs in rain forest sub-canopy and home gardens.  Also cultivated widely from wet lowlands to about 700m elevations. Aromatic bark use as a spice and oil distilled from both bark and leaves. whole plant has medicinal value and use in traditional and Ayurvedic medicine.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

නිවිති [Nivithi]/Malabar Spinach(Basella alba)

An indigenous twining herb often cultivated as a leafy vegetable. Wild plants are rather rare and confine to the forest and shady places of the dry areas. Whole plant medicinal. Flowering from September to December. 

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Paddyfield Pipit/Indian Pipit/ගොමරිට්ටා[Gomaritta]/කෙත් වැරටිච්චා[Keth Waratichcha] (Anthus rufulus)

Rather common breeding resident inhabiting grasslands, paddy fields and open areas throughout the island. It lives in pairs or sometimes as scattered flocks. Paddyfield Pipit feeds on grasshoppers, ground beetles and other such insects on ground. It occasionally perch on trees and shrubs but usually inhabiting the ground, running swiftly over the grass, often standing erect to view the surrounding. The main breading season is from March to July though nests may be found during the other months of the year. The nest, cup made up of pad of grass, rootlets, etc. is placed on the ground under the shelter of grass tussock. The normal clutch consists of three eggs. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

වැල් කෑලිය/වැල් මැඩිය[Wel Keliya/Wel Mediya] (Grewia orientalis)

Common native shrub grows in forests, scrub lands and grasslands in the dry zone. Flexible Branches of this shrub were used to make bows by Veddhas. 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

හීන් අල[Heen Ala](Glinus oppositifolius [Syn: Mollugo oppositifolia])

Common mat forming indigenous prostrate herb occurs in moist to dry open places in the lowlands. Often grows on the bottom of empty tanks. 

Monday, December 5, 2016

කෝන [Kona]/Mexican Lilac (Gliricidia sepium)

An introduced tree native to tropical America. Planted as a shade tree for tea, cocoa and Coffee and also in fences. 

Saturday, December 3, 2016

මලිත්තන් [Maliththan]/Mustard Tree (Salvadora persica)




An  indigenous small tree in open areas and scrub lands of the dry and arid regions, especially by the coast. Flowering all the year rounds. Whole plant medicinal.


Friday, December 2, 2016

කෝන්[Kon]/Ceylon Oak (Schleichera oleosa)

Common native tree of dry and intermediate zone forests up to 700 m elevations. Flowering from March to April and fruiting from April to August. Bark and oils extracted from seeds are used in medicine.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

තිලෝගුරු[Thiloguru] (Polygala javana)

Common native herb (Sometimes a shrub up to 1 m tall ) occurs in dry open areas and shrubby roadsides of the dry lowlands. Flowering throughout the year.