Saturday, June 20, 2015

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.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

මහ දිය සියඹලා[Maha diyasiyabala] /Pith plant/Shola/Shola pith(Aeschynomene aspera)

Common native erect herb occurs in water or wet places. Usually along the borders of tanks. Pith of the stems is used to make fishing floats, toys & sun hats. 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Chalcosia sp. (Chalcosia venosa?)


Location - Meethirigala forest reserve
Expanse - Male: 3.8cm cm Female: 4.5cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 2 Page 45.

Monday, June 15, 2015

හිරමන-දැත්ත[Hiramana-daththa]/Frogfruit/Bank mat (Phyla nodiflora)


An indigenous creeping herb occurs in moist places like tank edges, seacoast, dry river beds, etc.  Flowering throughout the year. Used in medicine and leaves said to be edible.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

ගම්-මිරිස්/ගම්-මිරිස්-වැල්[Gam-Miris/Gam-Miris-Wel]/Black-Pepper(Piper nigrum)

A twining herb native to eastern and western ghats of India. Introduced in an unknown period of the history and naturalized in secondary and disturbed primary forests of the wet zone up to about 800 m elevations. Also cultivated in large scale. 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

කැලණිතිස්ස[Kelanitissa]/Yellow elder/Yellow trumpet flower (Tecoma stans)

An introduced shrub or small tree native to tropical America. Widely planted along roads and in gardens. Not naturalized. Flowering intermittently throughout the year.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Common Dartlet (Oriens goloides)

An uncommon butterfly occurs in grassy areas all over the island up to mid-hills. It often found settled on grass by the roadsides. If disturbed, darts off rapidly and usually settles again near by shrub. Common Dartlet larva feeds on Setaria barbata (තණ කොළ)Cyrtococcum trigonum and also Axonopus compressus only when offered.



Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Ophiopogon intermedius

An indigenous herb occurs in forest shade of moist region, mid-country and montane areas. flowering from February to September.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

ලුනුවිල[Lunuwila]/Water hyssop/Thyme leaved gratiola(Bacopa monnieri)

Common indigenous herb with creeping stems. Occurs in open marshy lands and along banks of ponds and creeks of the lowlands. Usually close to the coast. Flowering throughout the year. Used in Ayurvedic medicine. 

Monday, June 8, 2015

Lepidagathis fasciculata

An indigenous perennial herb occurs along roadsides among grasses in mid-country and dry lowlands. Flowering March-April & August- October.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Geometrid moth (Cusuma limbata?) Cusuma sp.


A female Cusuma sp. photographed at Gilimale forest reserve of Rathnapura district.
Wing expanse - 6cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 3 Page 424.

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Torenia courtallensis [Syn: Torenia aerinea]

Prostrate herb with ascending branches grows under shade in damp grassy grounds in the upper hills above 1800m a.s.l.Flowering throughout the year. 

Friday, June 5, 2015

Knoxia zeylanica

An endemic perennial herb occurs in lowland forests and open places in the wet  zone

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Wild allamanda/Hammock viper's tail/Sundial (Pentalinon luteum)

Woody climber native to tropical America,West Indies and Florida. Cultivated widely in home gardens. Flowering probably throughout the year.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Pied Fantail (Annotated checklist of vagrant Fantails (Family: Rhipiduridae) of Sri Lanka)

      Birds that appear outside their normal range are known as vagrants. This post listed up to date published sight records of single *unconfirmed vagrant of the family Rhipiduridae (Fantails) in Sri Lanka.
  

      1)Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica)
Single sight record of A.J. Vincent at Yala National Park in April 1994 is the only record. (Kotagama S. & Ratnavira G. 2010: 276).

References:
Kotagama, S., Ratnavira, G. 2010. An illustrated Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka. Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

*Species for which there are only one or two sight records exist categorized here as unconfirmed vagrants. Problematic records without sufficient details are also included. 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Eranthemum capense

Common indigenous herb occurs under shade of shrubs and trees in forests of dry lowlands and mid country. Flowering from January to June and August to September.

Monday, June 1, 2015

හරන්-කහ[Haran-kaha] (Curcuma aromatica [Syn: Curcuma zedoaria])

Cultivated and naturalized herb in Sri Lanka, India and Southeast Asia.Country of origin unknown. The rhizome is used in medicinally and perfumery.