Friday, October 9, 2015

Justicia ceylanica

Rather common endemic herb occurs in southwestern wet lowlands and mid country forests, often beside rocks and along streams. Flowering from February to March and again from August to November.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Sesamum radiatum

An introduced erect annual herb occurs in waste places from north of Colombo to Negombo. Sesamum raditum is  native to tropical West Africa. Flowering from May to August or probably throughout the year. Trimen noted that "no doubt it is spread from Botanic gardens".

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Nyctemera lacticinia


Location - Sigiriya
Expanse - Male: 3.8cm cm Female: 4.5cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 2 Page 47- 48.
Ecology - Day flier
External links : http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/124131-Nyctemera-lacticinia

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

කන් කුඹල[Kan kubala] (Cynanchum tunicatum)

Rather uncommon indigenous herb twining in hedges and fences of the dry zone. Flowering from November to March.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Vincetoxicum bracteatum [Syn: Tylophora pauciflora]

Rather rare indigenous twining plant growing mainly in the dry lowlands. Also cultivated in wet and intermediate zone home gardens. 

Sunday, October 4, 2015

අඟුණ/තිත්ත අඟුණ/අනුක්කොල/කිරි අඟුණ(Wattakaka volubilis [Syn: Dregea volubilis])

An indigenous twiner climbing in trees and shrubs, distributed in dry lowlands up to about 1000 m a.s.l. Flowering from March to April and again rarely from August to November.  Leaves edible and eaten as curries. Leaves also used in traditional medicine.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Trichosanthes scabra [Syn: Gymnopetalum scabrum/Gymnopetalum integrifolium]

Largely creeping and climbing native annual herb common in the waste places of dry and intermediate zones up to about 200 m altitude. Flowers opening in the evening. 

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Struchium sparganophorum

An introduced erect herb native to tropical America. It was first collected at Meerigama in November 1931. Rather uncommon naturalized weed in moist ground and ditches in South and Western lowland areas of the island. Flowering from July to March. 

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

එළ මල් [Ela mal]/White-ginger Lily/Butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium)


Native large herb of India and Malaysia. Perhaps also native to the Sri Lanka*. Cultivated and also naturalized in the wet lowlands and hill country up to about 1500 m altitudes

* Illustrated field guide to the flowers of Sri Lanka - J & J de Vlas 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Emilia zeylanica

Large indigenous herb grows in patanas, forest borders, ridges, etc. in higher elevations. Flowering throughout the year. Two varieties (var. zeylanica & var. walkeri) occurs in Sri Lanka and both are endemic. Variety zeylanica restricted to the patana lands between 2000-2300 m altitudes.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Clerodendrum laevifolium [Syn: Clerodendrum wallichii]

Native from Himalayan India, Pakistan, Bhutan, to Myanmar and Vietnam. Introduced and occasionally cultivated in home gardens. 

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Common Albatross (Appias albina darada)

Common butterfly of the hill country. But not occurred in the very high elevations. It takes parts in migrations and also settles on wet patches on paths, river beds, etc. to absorb minerals in large numbers. Its only known larval food plant in Sri Lanka is Drypetes sepiaria.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Friday, September 25, 2015

ලේනතැරිය/ලේන්තැරි/ලේන්තැරි පුවක්[Lenatheriya/Lenteri/Lenteri-Puwak] (Areca concinna)

An endemic and endangered small tree occurs in swamp forests and valley bottoms from Kalutara to Galle in the southwestern wet lowlands. Flowers and fruits throughout the year.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

බිං අවරි[Bin Awari](Indigofera linnaei)

An indigenous prostrate herb. Very common in dry and open places and near seashores in the dry and intermediate zones. 

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Asota producta


Location - Yagirala forest reserve. 
Wing expanse - 3.5 - 7 cm
Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 2 Page 52-53.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Perennial peanut/Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi)

An introduced creeping herb native to the Central Brazil. It was introduced as a ground cover in tea plantations and now naturalizing along roads in the hill country.

Monday, September 21, 2015

කොන්ඩේ[Konde] (Uniyala wightiana [Syn: Vernonia wightiana])

A indigenous shrub common in patanas, grassy banks and montane forests above 1000 m a.s.l. Flowering from November to May.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Star Gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus)

An introduced shrub to small tree native to India. Cultivated in home gardens in all climatic zones. Fruits edible.