Sunday, May 15, 2016

Common Acacia Blue (Surendra quercetorum)

Common butterfly flies all the year round in wetter parts of the island below 1000 m a.s.l. wherever its food plants grows. Its larva feeds on leaves of  Senegalia caesia (හිඟුරු-වැල්)Acacia pennata (ගොඩ හිඟුරු), Albizia lebbeck (සූරිය මාර), Falcataria moluccana (මාර) and Calliandra surinamensis.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Calliandra (Calliandra houstoniana var. calothyrsus [Syn: Calliandra calothyrsus])

Native tree of Northwest Panama to South Mexico. Introduced and cultivated as a shade tree in tea plantations. Leaves use as a fodder. 

Friday, May 13, 2016

Ophiorrhiza nemorosa

An endemic herb occurs in the hill country. Ecology unknown* (Flora of Ceylon Vol 12)

* Above pictures were taken in a forested mountainous roadside close to a stream. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

නාපිරිත්ත/හීන් නාපිරිත්ත[Napiriththa/Heen napiriththa] (Hibiscus surattensis [syn Hibiscus furcatus])

Common indigenous scrambling and trailing shrubby or erect herb occurs in scrub lands, secondary vegetation, roadsides and waste places, especially near habitations in the low country.  Flowering from December to April.

*නාපිරිත්ත or Hibiscus furcatus Roxb. with short outward pointing lobes of epicalyx segments is now considered as a synonym of Hibiscus surattensis L. having epicalyx segments of large outward pointing lobes. (http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2849894)

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Monday, May 9, 2016

තොලබෝ[Tolabo](Crinum asiaticum)

Common indigenous tall herb occurs in the moist lowlands. Common on the sandy seacoast, open areas and in coconut plantations. Also cultivated as an ornamental from low to mid elevations. Flowering throughout the year and strongly fragrant flowers opening in the evening. Bulbs and leaves are used in  traditional medicine. 

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Sanchezia spp.

An introduced Sanchezia species cultivated in gardens, native to the tropical South America. It could be S. parvibrateata, S. speciosa or S. nobilis*

* Illustrated field guide to the flowers of Sri Lanka, Vol 1, J. & J. de Vlas, 2008.

Friday, May 6, 2016

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.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

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.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

පාවට්ටා [Pavetta] (Pavetta blanda)

An indigenous shrub or treelet occurs in primary and secondary forests in the wet lowlands and hills. 

Monday, May 2, 2016

නෙල්ලි[Nelli] (Phyllanthus emblica)

A tree of monsoon forests, savannah and dry patanas. Also widely cultivated in gardens. Native or introduced to Sri Lanka in the ancient time. Fruit edible and whole plant medicinal. 

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Oyster plant/Moses-In-The-Rushes/Two ladies in a boat(Tradescantia spathacea)

An introduced herb native to Mexico and Guatemala. Cultivated and occasionally naturalized locally. Flowering throughout the year

Friday, April 29, 2016

Sri Lankan Cascader (Zygonyx iris ceylonicus)

An endemic dragonfly rather common at mid elevations of the southwestern wet zone. Also occurs in the intermediate zone, but absent in the coastal areas and higher hills. Fast flowing water near waterfalls and cascades are the preferred habitats of this rather large size cascader. It can be seen gliding continuously over the water with swift turns in such habitats. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Garlic Vine (Mansoa hymenaea)

An introduced vine native to the central America. Cultivated in gardens. Bruised leaves has a garlic smell, hence the name Garlic vine. 

Monday, April 25, 2016

තිබ්බටු/ගෝන-බටු[Tibbatu, Gona-Batu] (Solanum torvum)


Common introduced shrub naturalized along roadsides and waste places especially in the wet zone up to about 1400m alt. Flowering throughout the year.