Showing posts with label Sterculiaceae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sterculiaceae. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

තෙලබු[Telabu]/(Sterculia foetida)

 An indigenous tree of woodlands, meadows, relicts in grasslands, water edges, bare rocky hillsides and outcrops with grassy pockets from lowlands to about 360  m elevations,  particularly in dry areas. 

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

A native tree of Australia. Introduced to Sri Lanka in 1882 (Macmillan H.F., 1910).  "Several herbarium specimens collected from the South Garden of the Peradeniya available, but doubtless widely cultivated elsewhere 'eg. Talawakelle Estate, Nuwaraeliya District" (Dassanayake M.D. et. al., 1995). This single tree was observed at a roadside location of Boralanda - Haputhale B353 road near Glananore Estate. Flowering in May and June with large masses of red blossoms, when the tree is bare of leaves. 

Thursday, January 17, 2019

බඳු වද [Bandu Wada] (Pentapetes phoenicea)

An indigenous (Or may be introduced from India) herb  occurs in marshy places, paddy fields, tank edges, etc. at sea level or lower elevations in the dry zone. 

Monday, April 18, 2016

Cola-nut/කෝලා [Colay] (Cola nitida)

Native plant of West tropical Africa from Guinea to Ghana. Introduced into Sri Lanka in 1879. The seeds contain caffeine and are used in the manufacture of soft drinks.

Friday, December 25, 2015

වෙළන් [Welang]/Fishing rod tree (Pterospermum suberifolium)

Common indigenous tree grows in monsoon, evergreen mixed and secondary forests, abandoned chena lands, scrub lands, beaches and rocky slopes in the dry and intermediate zones from sea level to about 650 m a.s.l. Wood used in light construction and leaves medicinal. Formerly Veddhas used wood as fire sticks and to make arrows. 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Sleepy Morning (Waltheria indica)

An introduced shrubby herb native to tropical America.  It occurs along roadsides, weedy fields, waste places, rocky outcrops and cultivation from 8 to 330 m a.s.l. 

Friday, June 19, 2015

ගල් කූර/මහ ගල්-කූර[Gal Kura, Maha-Galkura](Melochia corchorifolia)

Common indigenous herb occurs along roadsides, edges of weedy fields, grassy areas between paddy fields & forest edges,etc. from sea level to about 150 m altitude. Often found in rather wet places.

Friday, June 13, 2014

නාවා [Nawa] (Sterculia balanghas)

Small to medium tree occurs in monsoon forests, along roadsides, rocky outcrops etc. from sea level to about 900m elevation. Also cultivated as an ornamental and as a fence tree.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

ලීනිය[Liniya]/Screw tree (Helicteres isora)



Liniya is rather common indigenous shrub or small tree found in scrub lands, secondary forest edges, roadsides, beach edges and also of primary forests of dry and intermediate zones of the island from sea level to about 225 m a.s.l. Timber use to manufacture oars and bark provides a strong fiber. Fruits and seeds are used by traditional medical practitioners to treat colic and ear ulcers respectively.