Anaphalis brevifolia

An indigenous much branched annual or biennial herb occurs in grassy banks and patanas from  1500 to 2100 m a.s.l. Rather common and flowering from September to April. 

වැල් මුද්ද[Vel mudda]/African globethistle (Sphaeranthus africanus)

An indigenous erect annual herb occurs in marshy or brackish situations at low elevations. Sometimes on the seashore. Flowering from November to May. 

සුදනා[Sudana]/Asthmaweed(Erigeron bonariensis [Syn: Conyza bonariensis)

An introduced erect herb native to South America. According to the Trimen it was introduced at Hakgala Botanical Garden about 1864 among seeds from St. Petersburge. Escaped and naturalized along roadsides, waste places, etc. in the tea growing areas. 

Launaea sarmentosa

Common native prostrate herb occurs on sandy seashores above the high tide mark. Flowering from July to May and probably throughout the year. 

දහස් පෙතියා/දාස් පෙතියා [Dhahas Pethiya/Dhas Pethiya]Marigold Orange/Marigold Yellow (Tagetes erecta)

Native plant of Mexico.  Introduced and cultivated in gardens. Also naturalized along roadsides and a weed in cultivated grounds. Flowering throughout the year.

Butter daisy/රන් මානිස්ස[Ran manissa] (Melampodium divaricatum)

An introduced annual herb native to the Central America. Cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. Also escaped and naturalized in waste lands, 

Acilepis nemoralis [Syn: Vernonia nemoralis]

An uncommon endemic herb or sub-shrub occurs along streams and moist tracksides from sea level to about 1200 m elevations in the southwestern wet zone.  Flowering from February to May.

වල් තේ කොළ [Wal te kola]Ceylon tea/Spanish needle/Beggar's tick (Bidens pilosa [Syn: Bidens pilosa var. minor])

An introduced herb native to temperate and tropical America. Naturalized in Sri Lanka and occurs as two varieties.
var. pilosa - Without or usually with very small white ray flowers. Only known from Peradeniya-Kandy area. Flowering from November to March.
var. minor(Above pic) - Very common weed of roadsides, disturbed places, cultivated grounds, etc. in the montaze zone. Flowering occurs throughout the year.

China aster (Callistephus chinensis)

An introduced annual herb native to the China and Korea. Cultivated as an ornamental in gardens. Varies cultivars available with flowers of many colors. 

Firewheel/Indian blanket/Indian blanketflower/Indian paintbrush/Sundance (Gaillardia pulchella)

Native plant of North America. Introduced and cultivated in gardens as an ornamental. 

Carrot grass/Carrot weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)

Native herb of tropical America. Probably introduced into Sri Lanka in 1988 since it was first observed at the School of Agriculture at Vavuniya which Indian Peace Keeping Force occupied at that time. Now a widely spreading invasive weed of abandoned fields, waste lands, roadsides and cultivated grounds. The plant is toxic and can cause skin and respiratory system problems.

These plant were observed at a roadside location close to the Mathale town (7°27.769'N, 80°37.767'E)

පුපුල/හීන් බෝටිය[Pupula/Hin botiya] (Jeffreycia zeylanica [Syn: Vernonia zelylanica])

Common endemic shrub occurs in track sides in patanas, dunes bordering forest scrub at sea level and roadsides up to about 1000 m altitude. Flowering most of the year. 

Dog's tongue (Pseudelephantopus spicatus)

A recent addition to the Flora of Sri Lanka*. An introduced herb native to the Caribbean. First time recorded from altitude 400 m of Peak wilderness. Numerous naturalized plants observed at Meethirigala forest reserve of Gampaha district (Personal observation, 2016/01/29).

* Illustrated field guide to the flowers of Sri Lanka Volume 2 - J. & J de Vlas, 2014

ඇත් අඩි[Eth adi] (Elephantopus scaber)

Common indigenous herb grows along roadsides, patanas, scrub lands, plantations and as a weed in lawns from lowlands to 2100 m  altitudes in the hill country.Roots and leaves medicinal.

හුලන් තලා [Hulan tala]/Goat weed/White weed (Ageratum conyzoides)

Native herb of tropical America. Very common invasive weed along roadsides, cultivated grounds and waste places throughout the island. Flowering throughout the year. Flowers white, blue or mauve.

Struchium sparganophorum

An introduced erect herb native to tropical America. It was first collected at Meerigama in November 1931. Rather uncommon naturalized weed in moist ground and ditches in South and Western lowland areas of the island. Flowering from July to March. 

Emilia zeylanica

Large indigenous herb grows in patanas, forest borders, ridges, etc. in higher elevations. Flowering throughout the year. Two varieties (var. zeylanica & var. walkeri) occurs in Sri Lanka and both are endemic. Variety zeylanica restricted to the patana lands between 2000-2300 m altitudes.

වල් රඹුටන්/ඌරු කොස්ස[Wal-Rambutang/Uru-Kossa] (Xanthium strumarium subsp. strumarium[Syn: Xanthium indicum])

Common indigenous large herb occurs in moist places, roadsides, cultivated grounds, dry margins of tanks and in waste places in the dry zone. 

කොන්ඩේ[Konde] (Uniyala wightiana [Syn: Vernonia wightiana])

A indigenous shrub common in patanas, grassy banks and montane forests above 1000 m a.s.l. Flowering from November to May.

Emilia alstonii

An indigenous herb occurs along weedy roads, eroded patanas and tea plantations in the high elevations, mainly southern and eastern part of the hill country.