Monday, December 31, 2018

කුකුල් කටු/ගිනි අන්දර[Kukul Katu/Gini Andara]/Cockspur Thorn (Vachellia eburnea [Syn: Acacia eburnea])

Large or small bush or small tree common in the dry areas, especially near the coast. Native plant of India, Arabian peninsula and Afghanistan and introduced to Sri Lanka. (As per Vlas J. & J. de, 2014 but probably a Native of Sri Lanka)  

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Syke’s Yellow wagtail/කහ හැලපෙන්දා (Motacilla flava beema)

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) is a winter migrant to the island. Several races of it have been recorded in Sri Lanka. Out of them race thunbergi is the commonest and other races are rare to very rare migrants or vagrants to the dry lowlands. Race beema (Syke’s Yellow wagtail) is considered as a very rare migrant to the low country dry zone. 

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Orthosiphon thymiflorus

An indigenous perennial herb grows under shade in secondary scrub of dry lowlands to drier lower uplands up to about 500 m a.s.l. Flowering from January to April.   

Friday, December 28, 2018

දිය කිරිල්ල[Diya Kirilla](Hydrolea zeylanica)

An indigenous herbaceous perennial wides pread in wet places around ponds and tanks, along irrigation canals and in wet depressions of the low country, especially in the dry zone. Flowering in  March and September. 

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

පිනි බර තණ [Pini Bara Tana] (Themeda tremula)

An indigenous perennial common along roadsides, open places and in low patanas from 160 m to 1300 m a.s.l. 

Monday, December 24, 2018

Centotheca lappacea

An indigenous erect tufted perennial occurs mostly in the wet shady places from low to middle elevations in the wet zone.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Persicaria nepalensis

Native small herb occurs in moist montane areas. Common and often occurs as a weed of plantations. Flowering all the year round. 

Saturday, December 22, 2018

බුලු වල් අඟුණ/බූ කිරි වැල්[Bulu Wal Anguna/Bu Kiri Wel (Chonemorpha fragrans)

Rather rare native huge woody twiner occurs in secondary forests in the wet zone up to about 800 elevations. Locally common. Flowering from March to May.

Friday, December 21, 2018

Pearl Flower (Heterocentron subtriplinervium)

An introduced small shrub native to Mexico. Cultivated as a ornamental plant but a potential invader. 

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Polygala longifolia [Syn: Polygala leptalea]

Very rare or extinct native herb as per Flora of Ceylon, distributed (According to Thwaites) among long grass in dry low country around Nilgala in the northern part of the Uva province. However it occurs in eastern intermediate to dry zone areas and now considered as an Endangered plant (Red List 2012 & Vlas J&J, 2012). 

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Chickweed (Stellaria media)

An indigenous creeping and ascending small herb, occurs among short grass in open places, gardens and cultivated grounds in upper hill country. Locally common. Flowering from December to February.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

African Lily/Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus africanus)

An introduced large herb native to Southern Africa. Cultivated in the montane region as an ornamental and for cut-flowers.

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Montbretia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora)

An introduced ornamental herb cultivated at high elevations. Escaped and naturalized in open places, along roadsides, footpaths etc. It is a fertile hybrid between Crocosmia pottsi and Crocosmia aurea both native to Africa.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

පේර[Pera]/Guava (Psidium guajava)

An introduced small tree or shrub widely cultivated in home gardens for its edible fruits. Native to tropical America.