Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Beak/Lobed Beak (Libythea laius lepitoides)

Rare butterfly distributed in same areas and similar habitats as it is of rather similar Club Beak. Its behavior is also similar to that of the Club Beak. Early stages of its life cycle is not yet recorded in Sri Lanka, though it is believed that Beak larva also feeds on the leaves of Celtis philippensis [මැදිතැල්ල] and Celtis timorensis [ගූරැන්ද/බූරැන්ද] as it is with the Club Beak.

Monday, May 21, 2018

කෙසෙල්[Kesel]/Banana/Plantain(Musa x paradisiaca)

An indigenous giant herb, widely cultivated for its edible fruits. Cultivated varieties are hybrids of Musa acuminata (ගල් කෙහෙල්/උනෙල්) and Musa balbisiana (ඇටි කෙහෙල්), both species are native to India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia

Sunday, May 20, 2018

දාඹු[Dhambu] (Lepisanthes tetraphylla)

An indigenous shrub or moderate size tree, common in dry zone forests (var. tetraphylla).

Variety trichocarpa which is endemic to the island and rarely occurs in the forests of moist regions up to 700 elevations, is frequent around the Kandy. Flowering from March to May.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Ixora thwaitesii

An indigenous shrub or small tree of moist and intermediate zone forests from lowlands to hill country up to about 1000 (2000) m a.s.l

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

West Indian rattlebox/Zanzibar rattlepod/Cusara pea (Crotalaria trichotoma[Syn: Crotalaria zanzibarica])

An introduced large herb native to tropical East Africa. Introduced as a green manure or cover crop. Escaped and naturalized along road sides, waste places etc. mainly in the hill country. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

බෝමී[Bomee] (Litsea glutinosa)

Common native moderate size tree of low country up to about 1000 m elevations. The wood is used for construction works. Bark and leaves medicinal and also used as insect repellents.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Siamese white ixora (Ixora finlaysoniana)

An introduced ornamental shrub widely cultivated in wet and intermediate zone gardens. Native to the Thailand

Friday, May 11, 2018

Ardisia rothii [Syn: Ardisia missionis]

Common native shrub occurs in shade, along forest edges of the moist region, mainly in the lower montane zone up to 1200 m a.s.l. Flowering and fruiting from April to June. 

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Natal Grass/Rose natal grass/Natal red top (Melinis repens)

An introduced grass species native to the Africa. Naturalized along roadsides, grassy banks, waste places, etc. from low to medium elevations. 

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Acilepis gardneri [Syn: Vernonia gardneri]

Rather rare endemic perennial herb or subshrubs occurs in moist shady places of the hill country.  Flowering from February to May. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

වල් කරපිංචා [Wal karapincha] (Micromelum minutum var. ceylanicum)

Micromelum minutum is an indigenous tree of lower altitudes, especially of the dry zone forests and scrub lands. Flowering from October to February and sporadically. 

var ceylanicum endemic to Sri Lanka.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Rauvolfia verticillata [Syn: Rauvolfia densiflora]

Locally common native treelet of disturbed and secondary mist forests and along edges of montane forests from 700 to 2200 m a.s.l.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Brier rose/Double-flowered china rose/Salem rose(Rubus rosifolius var. coronarius)

An indigenous undershrub frequently cultivated as an ornamental. Country of origin unknown. Also naturalized in the montane zone at 1500 m a.s.l.

* Rubus coronarius (Sims) Sweet, previously treated as a separate species, is now considered as a synonym of Rubus rosifolius var. coronarius Sims

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Rosemary leaved balsam/Rosemarina hill balsam (Impatiens oppositifolia)

An indigenous slender annual herb occurs in grassy places, wet sandy areas, ditches and occasionally in submarshy areas of damp scrub, often in partial shade, from low altitudes to submontane up to 1220 m a.s.l.

Friday, May 4, 2018

නයි බටු/දෙහෙල් බටු[Nai batu/Dehel batu]/Devil's apple/Cockroach berry (Solanum capsicoides)

An introduced undershrub native to tropical America. Escaped and naturalized along moist shady roadsides of the hill country up to montane areas.  

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Caracas rattle box(Crotalaria micans)

An introduced herb with woody base, native to tropical America.  Introduced as an ornamental and green manure. Escaped and naturalized along roads and waste places. Very common. 

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Reissantia indica

Common native liana or struggling shrub of dry zone monsoon forests up to 800 m a.s.l. Flowering and fruiting from June to December.

Flower Size - 1 mm across