Stenotaphrum dimidiatum

Common native grass species occurs often in shades of trees along coast and inland at low to medium elevations. 

Indian Comet Grass (Paspalum sumatrense [Perotis indica])

 An indigenous annual or short-lived perennial widespread in open areas of forests and grasslands, roadsides and sandy soils near coast in both wet and dry zones from sea level to about 200 m a.s.l. 

Ischaemum barbatum

Common native grass of patanas, grassy stream banks and roadsides, pastures, lawns, pond margins etc. from seal level to 1900 m elevations. 

අමු[Amu] (Paspalum scrobiculatum)

Common native perennial occurs in open grassy areas, roadsides, patanas, ditches, margins of paddy fields, tanks and marshlands etc. from sea level to about 1900 m elevations. Cultivated form of Paspalum scrobiculatum is very rarely cultivated as a cereal. 

Sacciolepis indica

A common native grass in wet depressions and moist grassy slopes, sometime in partial shade from near sea level to over 1520 m elevations. 

Bothriochloa pertusa

An indigenous tufted perennial common in pastures and grassy borders at low and medium elevations and lower montane zone. 

Cynodon barberi

Rather rare native perennial mainly occurs in the dry lowlands. Loosely mat-forming usually in open damp sites. 

Eriochloa procera

Common native perennial widespread in grasslands, marshes, scrubs, forests, as a weed in cultivation such as coconut plantations and along irrigation canals throughout the island except in the upper montane zone. Often occurs on open, damp or seasonally flooded sites. 

Sporobolus coromandelianus

An indigenous erect annual common in open or disturbed sites of the dry and arid lowlands. Also a major component of upper level of 'Damana' grasslands.

හා තණ[Ha Tana] (Setaria flavida [Syn: Paspalidium flavidum])

Common native weed of varies moist situations from lowlands to mid country. 

Indian Bur Grass (Tragus mongolorum [Syn: Tragus roxburghii])

Common native annual or short-lived perennial  occurs in coastal areas of dry and arid zones. Flowering all the year round.

Eragrostis viscosa

Common native perennial mainly occurs in coastal lowlands of the dry zone, usually on sandy foreshores and saline flats in association of grasslands. Also known to extend to the wet zone up to 500 m elevations along roadsides, as a weed of tea estates and disturbed grounds.

Panicle - Usually 5-11 cm long &1-2 cm wide
Spikelets - 2-3 mm long &1-1.5 mm wide

කවලු[Kavalu] (Setaria parviflora)

An introduced perennial weed common in open grassy areas, roadsides and patana lands from sea level to about 1500 m elevations. It is eaten by cattle. 

පොතු තණ[Potu Thana]/Carpet Grass (Axonopus compressus)

An introduced perennial native to tropical America. Naturalized and occurs in wide range of habitats as a ruderal and weed from sea level to about 1900 m a.s.l., mainly in the wet zone. It is used as a lawn grass.   

බූ දෙනි තණ[Bu Deni Tana]/Bugseed Grass (Alloteropsis cimicina)

Common native grass species of most parts of the wet and dry lowlands up to about 1200 m a.s.l. of mid-hills  It occurs mainly in damp or shady sites in disturbed places, but also in varies other habitats including dry patana lands.  

Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus [Syn: Panicum maximum])

An introduced and naturalized perennial often forming large clumps. Probably native to the Africa. It occurs commonly in open grassy areas, river banks, neglected lawns, roadsides, pastures and plantations from sea level to about 1000 m elevations.

ගුරු තණ[Guru Tana] (Digitaria ciliaris)

An indigenous annual common along roadsides, paddy field borders, ditches and other disturbed sites from lowlands to intermediate elevations. 

Urochloa subquadripara [Syn: Brachiaria subquadripara]

An indigenous perennial common in fallow fields, grassy roadsides, waste places  and along stream banks from sea level to about 1000 m a.s.l. It is a very good pasture grass. 

Eragrostis unioloides

Common native grass species distributed throughout the island from sea level to about 2300 m elevations. 

Sour Grass (Paspalum conjugatum)

Probably a native grass of tropical America. Introduced to Sri Lanka and now a common weed in plantations, lawns, roadsides and other open grassy areas from sea level to about 1100 m elevations.