අරලිය[Araliya]/Temple flower/Temple tree (Plumeria obtusa)

Native tree of Caribbean. Introduced and widely cultivated, often near Buddhist temples but also in home gardens and along roads. Flowering throughout the year. 

බලු දං [Balu Dan] (Ardisia elliptica)

Rather common native shrub occurs in the low country, especially in the coastal areas. Flowering and fruiting from September to April. 

බූ රේන්ද/ගෝවින්ද/වල් ගූරැන්ද/ගුලින්ද[Bu renda/Govinda/Wal Gurenda/Gulinda]/Common hedge bower(Volkameria inermis [Syn: Clerodendrum inerme])

An indigenous shrub common in saline marshes, tidal river banks, seashores and mangrove forest borders in both wet and dry zones. Flowering from March to April and July to August.

Tamarisk (Tamarix indica)

Native shrub or small tree confined to the sea coast of North and Northwestern provinces. Sometimes also occurs in more inland sandy brackish areas. 

වෙල් ආතා [Wel Atha]/Pond Apple/Alligator Apple/Monkey Apple (Annona glabra)

An invasive tree spreading aggressively in southwestern wet lowland marshy areas, mangroves, near paddy fields, forest edges, etc. Common near the coast.  Native tree of tropical and sub tropical coastal areas of the America and west Africa. 

Spermacoce articularis

Common indigenous perennial herb. Flowering from March to August.

දොඹ/තෙල් දොඹ[Domba,Tel-Domba]/Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum)

Common indigenous tree occurs mainly in the lowland coastal areas. Inland plants are either planted as ornamental or spontaneous.  Oil extracted from the seeds use as lamp oil, soap making and also painting wood works. Whole plant medicinal. 

Scarlet Flame Bean/Mountain Rose/Rose of Venezuela/Cooper Hoop (Brownea coccinea)

Native tree of Venezuela, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil Trinidad and Tobago. Introduced to the Peradeniya botanical garden in 1849. Cultivated as an ornamental tree.

මාදන්/මහ දන්[Madan/Mahadan]/Black Plum/Java Plum/Jamuna Tree/Indian Blackberry/Jambola (Syzygium cumini)

Native large shrub or tree common in the dry zone, especially along margin of streams and tanks. Also grows in northern sand dunes, where it plays a major part in anchoring the sands and stabilizing dune ridges. Flowering from May to August. Timber used in construction and fruit edible.  Bark and fruits are used in the traditional medicine.

Knoxia spicata

An endemic herb or low shrub rather common in forests and open places in the montane areas.

ඉලුක්[Illuk]/Blady Grass/Spear Grass/Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica)

An introduced perennial weed grows in coastal areas, sand dunes, open places, roadsides, waste lands,  agricultural fields, ditch banks, etc. from sea level to about 1200 m asl. It is ranked as one of the 10 worst invasive weeds of the world. Spear Grass usually flowering after stress such as drought, burning and cutting. The seeds disperse by the wind and remain viable for over one year. 

Oxystelma esculentum

Rather rare native twiner occurs in the drier part of the country, usually near tanks. Flowering throughout the year. Used as a remedy for hydrophobia in traditional medicine.

*Sinhala name for this plant is given as 'Usepale' [උස් ඇපැල?] in the Flora of Ceylon Vol 4 and as ගර්භිණී [Garbinee] in the Charles Carter's Sinhalese-English dictionary published in 1924.

සායා [Saya]/Chaya Root (Oldenlandia umbellata)

Native prostrate herb occurs in dry sandy grounds along the coast and in the dry zone. Formerly cultivated in northern part of the country to yield a natural dye.

වල් රත් දිය ලබු[Wal rat diya labu]/Threeleaf cayratia (Causonis trifolia [Syn: Cayratia trifolia])

Native liana occurs open vegetation in the lowlands, often near the coast behind the mangroves, in hedges and on waste lands. Flowering from June to November. 

Pale Palm Dart (Telicota colon kala)

Rather rare butterfly inhabiting grasslands and open meadows of the Uva and Sabaragamuwa hills and drier areas of the Central province. It probably flies year-round. Ormiston in 1924 recorded it from Galle and Wellawaya and noted that it is very common at times in Haldummulla.  Its larva feed on an unidentified grass species (van der Poorten G. & van der Poorten N. 2016). As per Ormiston it also feed on Sugar cane/උක් (Saccharum officinarum) which is extensively cultivated for sugar production in some areas.

References

• van der Poorten G. & van der Poorten N. 2016,  The Butterfly Fauna of Sri Lanka.
• Ormiston  W. 1924, The Butterflies of Ceylon, H.W.Cave & Co., Colombo 1924, AES Reprint New Delhi, 2003

වල් නානු[Wal nanu]/African Stylo/Shrubby pencilflower (Stylosanthes fruticosa)

Rather common indigenous herb grows along roadsides, waste grounds, etc. from dry low lands to lower hill country. 

මණ්ඩ/මඩ ගස්/උල් මණ්ඩ[Manda/Mada gas.Ul manda]/Grey mangrove/White mangrove (Avicennia marina)

Common indigenous small tree occurs in tidal mudflats, brackish swamps, seashores and lagoons all around the island. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year. Roots medicinal and wood use as a firewood and for boat construction. 

Pavonia zeylonica [Syn: Pavonia odorata]

An indigenous woody herb or sub shrub grows in scrublands, bases of rocky outcrops, secondary dry forest borders and roadsides from sea level to about 450 m a.s.l. in the dry zone.

Leptopetalum biflorum [Syn: Oldenlandia biflora]

Native herb occurs in moist sandy soil and stony crevices in the dry zone.

ගොං කැකිරි/හීං කැකිරි/ලේන කැකිරි/කැකිරි [Gon-Kekiri/Heen Kekiri/Lene Kekiri/Kekiri]/Rough bryony/Madras pea pumpkin (Cucumis maderaspatanus [Syn: Mukia maderaspatana])

An indigenous slender climber with tendrils, common in both wet and dry lowlands, often as a weed in waste places, grasslands, river margins and cultivation. Flowering all the year round.