Friday, February 19, 2016

බූ ගැටිය/මහ ගැටිය/වට්ටි වැටි[Bu gatiya/Maha gatiya/Watti weti] (Hugonia mystax[Hugonia serrata])

Common native scrambling shrub in the dry zone shrub forests and forest edges. The mature stem is used to make frames of cane and bamboo baskets, hence the vernacular name වට්ටි වැටි. Roots medicinal.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

සමදරා[Samadara](Quassia indica)

Common native shrub or small tree in forests of wet lowlands. Flowering and fruiting from March to May. Bark, roots and fruits are used in traditional and Ayurveda medicine. Infusion of the leaves is a good insecticide.

Monday, February 15, 2016

හීන් ඇඹල/හීන් ඕලු [Heen ambala/Heen olu]/Crested snowflakes/Floating heart(Nymphoides hydrophylla)

An indigenous aquatic herb occurs in the dry lowland ponds and stagnant pools from sea level to about 150 m a.s.l. Very common in the Trincomalee district.  Flowering throughout the year.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

සාදික්කා[Sadikka]/Mace/Nutmeg(Myristica fragrans)

Native tree of Moluccas. Introduced and cultivated in intermediate and wet zone home gardens. Fruit medicinal and aril/seed use as a spice. 

Saturday, February 13, 2016

පතොක් [Pathok]/Pricky pear (Opuntia monacantha)

An introduced ornamental cactus native to tropical North America. Cultivated and also escaped and naturalized along roadsides of the dry zone.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Suregada lanceolata

An indigenous shrub occurs along river and stream sides in lowland primary and secondary forests up to 800 m a.s.l.

* Suregada angustifolia (Müll.Arg.) Airy Shaw is a synonym of Suregada lanceolata 

Monday, February 8, 2016

Barleria courtallica (Barleria nutans)

Very rare shrubby herb considered as a Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) plant under 2012 Red list. It has only been reported from two mid- hill localities in Kandy district (Hantana & Alagalla)  till recent discovery of it from two wet lowland forest patches (Jayasinghe H.D., 2015). 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

ගහල[Gahala]/Taro/Elephant's ear (Colocasia esculenta)

An introduced large herb probably with Southeast Asian origin. Now pan-tropically cultivated and also escaped and naturalized in open wet places. Very common from lowlands to intermediate altitude throughout the country. Its underground stem edible and many edible and ornamental cultivars exist. It is considered as an invasive since dense stand of wild Taro displace native flora and block waterways, canals and invade rice fields in the wet zone. 

Friday, February 5, 2016

නෙළු[Nelu] (Strobilanthes adenophora)

Rather rare endemic under shrub in southwest wet lowland forests, often by streams from 50 m to 200 m altitudes. 

Thursday, February 4, 2016

ගිරා පලා[Gira pala] (Commelina diffusa)

Very common native creeping herb occurs along roadsides, open areas, forest edges, margins of rivers, streams, tanks, ponds and marshes, etc. from sea level to about 1000 (-1540) m a.s.l. Sometimes growing in the water and also a weed in paddy fields. Flowering from October to July.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

කිණිහිරිය/ඇට ඉඹුල්/එළ ඉඹුල් [Kinihiriya/Ata Imbul/Ela Ibul]/Torch wood/Yellow Silk Cotton (Cochlospermum religiosum)

Native tree of India. Introduced and also naturalized in rocky places of dry and intermediate zone. Often cultivated near Buddhist temples. Flowering from March to May. Trees deciduous in February and March.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Bonpland's croton (Croton bonplandianus)

An introduced woody herb of dry and often sandy open areas in the low country. Native to South America and naturalized in the Sri Lanka.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Three-leaved Lantana/Cambara (Lantana trifolia)

An introduced perennial herb or sub-shrub native to tropical America. Naturalized along roadsides of the mid hills. Flowering from March to September.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Glossocarya scandens

Rather rare indigenous straggling shrub or woody vine occurs in the dry zone forests.