Robiquetia virescens

An endemic epiphyte on branches of trees in sub montane to montane wet evergreen forests up to 2150 m elevations. 

Flower Size: 4mm across and 1.2 cm long

Fox-tail Orchid/Batticaloa Orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa)

An indigenous epiphyte rather rare usually on trees by streams in grasslands in Uva and Eastern provinces. 

Vanilla/වැනිලා (Vanilla planifolia [Syn: Vanilla fragrans])

 An introduced liana native to South America. Cultivated for fermented pods which contains vanilla of commerce. The flowers need to be pollinated by hand since the pollinating bee species are not found outside of South America.

නරි අල [Nari Ala] (Coelogyne imbricata [Syn: Pholidota imbricata])

 

An indigenous epiphyte common on trees or rocks in wet evergreen forests, extending to montane forests from 457 to 1524 m elevations. 

Bulbophyllum trimenii

An endemic epiphyte rare on trees of mid country to montane forests above 762 m elevations. 

Cheirostylis flabellata

 An indigenous terrestrial  tiny herb occurs under shade of trees along pathways and hill cuttings in the montane forests from 900 to 2100 m elevations. Rare.

Flower size - 5-6 mm across

Calanthe triplicata

Rather rare native terrestrial herb in the shade of trees in montane forests up to about 2134 m elevations. 

Liparis walkerae

An indigenous rather rare terrestrial herb grows under the shade of trees in the montane forests up to about 1829 m elevations. 

 

Eulophia epidendraea

 

Large native terrestrial herb, rather rare in the shade, on decaying leaves and soil on rocks in the intermediate and dry zones. 

Coelogyne odoratissima

Rather common native epiphyte grows on trees of montane forests above 1800 m elevations. 

Podochilus falcatus

An endemic tufted epiphyte on trunks of trees and on rocks in mid country to sub montane forests from 610 to 1829 m elevations.

Oberonia longibracteata

Rather rare native tufted epiphyte found on trees in the sub-montane or mid-country tropical wet evergreen forests at about 1981 m a.s.l.

Porpax braccata [Syn: Conchidium braccatum/Eria braccata]

Rather common native epiphyte on trunks of trees in the submontane and montane forests from 1000 to 2150 m altitudes. 

Calanthe masuca

Rather common native terrestrial herb grows under the shade of trees in sub montane and montane zones. 

Habenaria acuminata

Rather common native terrestrial orchid species found among grass and other weeds on the slopes and hill cuttings in the submontane zone between 915 and 1524 m elevations. 

නාරිලතා [Narilatha] (Habenaria crinifera)

Rather rare indigenous terrestrial herb grows in the shade of trees in dry mixed evergreen forests and mid-country jungles up to 915 m a.s.l.

Lily of the valley (Pinalia bicolor[Syn: Eria bicolor])

Very common indigenous tufted epiphyte on trees above 1000 m a.s.l in sub montane tropical wet evergreen forests extending to the subtropical montane forests up to 2200 m elevations.

Kandyn Dancer/ Dancing Lady/Oncidium Golden Shower (Oncidium sphacelatum x Oncidium. flexuosum)

Probably a native plant of Brazil. Widely cultivated in pots or hanging containers in home gardens throughout the island. Flowering occurs all the year round.

Spiranthes australis [Spiranthes sinensis]

An indigenous terrestrial herb grows in wet patana-grasslands in the hill country. Flowering throughout the year.

Hyacinth Orchid (Satyrium nepalense)

Rather common indigenous terrestrial herb grows among grass in wet patana lands above 1200 m elevation. Flowering from September to April.