Wax begonia/Free flowering begonia(Begonia cucullata)

An introduced herb native to Tropical America (Brazil to Uruguay) Very common in central hills along roadsides and in tea plantations.

Quick weed (Galinsoga parviflora)

An introduced herb native to tropical South America. A common weed in cultivated grounds and wastelands. Flowering throughout the year.

Oberonia longibracteata

Rather rare native tufted epiphyte found on trees in the sub-montane or mid-country tropical wet evergreen forests at about 1981 m a.s.l.

Pogostemon rupestris

An endemic annual herb grows under shade close to streams in the montane and sub montane forests from 1200 to 2400 m elevations. Flowering from February to July. 

Violet (Viola betonicifolia)

Rather common native herb of montane to sub montane areas in the wet zone from 1000 to 2000 m elevations. Flowering and fruiting from February to April.

Dicliptera neesii

An endemic prostrate herb grows among grasses in under shade of secondary dry lowland forests. Often occurs close to streams. Flowering from May to August.

Blumea hieraciifolia

An indigenous perennial herb growing in patana grasslands, roadsides and forest margins above 1000 m a.s.l. Flowering from October to May. The variety flexuosa is endemic to the Sri Lanka and it occurs in two forms (yellow - flowered and purple - flowered)

මිහිරිය[Mihiriya] (Polyspora ceylanica [Syn: Gordonia ceylanica])

An endemic medium size tree occurs in montane wet zone forests from 900 to 2100 m elevations
Flower size - 3.2 - 4.2 cm

එළුවන්කුලම||Eluwankulama

ආනවිලුන්දාව||Anawilundawa Sanctuary

Jerdon’s Leafbird /ගිරා කුරුල්ලා/ජරදන් කොළරීසියා [Girakurulla/Jaradan Kolarisiya](Chloropsis jerdoni)

Common breeding resident of forests, open wooded areas and home gardens of the dry lowlands. Uncommon in wet lowlands and hills up to about 1100m a.s.l.  It lives as pairs or as family parties during the breeding season after the young are fledged. It has  very harsh calls and often mimics other birds. Jerdon’s Leafbird feeds on insects, fruits and nectar of flowers in the tree canopy. The breeding season lasts from November to May. The nest is a small hammock, slung between two twigs of a small forked branch and well hidden often high in a tree in foliage. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

White frangipani/Bridal bouquet (Plumeria pudica)

An introduced shrub native to Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. Cultivated as an ornamental in home gardens. 

Desert Rose (Leuenbergeria bleo)

An introduced shrub native to Panama, Columbia and Venezuela. Cultivated in home gardens as an ornamental. 

Jacquemontia paniculata

Probably an indigenous vine occurs on sandy soil in the dry zone grasslands, thickets and cultivated lands. 

Brahminy Blind Snake/Flowerpot Snake/දුමුටු කණඋල්ලා/[Dumutu Kanaulla](Indotyphlops braminus)

A small non venomous worm like blind snake lives under the soil, under and inside decaying logs, under stones and leaf litter. Brahminy Blind Snake is worldwide distributed as a result of human activities (Transported in the soil of plants. Hence its common name Flowerpot Snake). Flowerpot Snake feeds on ants, termites, insect larvae and on caterpillar droppings. It occurs from low country to about 1200 m elevations in Sri Lanka. It usually encountered crawling on soil surface during rains when they are flooded out of their subterranean haunts. Brahminy Blind Snake is a parthenogenesis (Entirely female) species producing 2 - 7 eggs without mating (In other words each individual able to found a new colony. Probably the only such snake species in the world). There is a belief that Blind Snakes enters the ears of people sleeping on the ground (Hence their vernacular name කණඋල්ලා)

Body length at birth - 35 mm
Body length of adult Snakes - 150 -170 mm

Pavonia zeylonica

An indigenous herb of roadsides, waste lands and disturbed habitats from coastal areas to about 600 m a.s.l. in the dry zone. 

Common Guava Blue/Woodapple Blue (Virachola isocrates)

Rather common butterfly but seldom seen since it inhabits mainly the canopy. Widely distributed in arid, dry and intermediate zones of the country where its principal larval food plant Limonia acidissima (Woodapple/දිවුල්) grows. Its main flight season is from June to September. Larva feeds on the soft pulp of the Woodapple fruit after eating its way into the fruit through its hard shell. It also prevents the fruit fall by spinning a web around its stalk and top of the fruit. In Sri Lanka, Common Guava Blue  larva also feeds on කුකුරුමාන් (Catunaregam spinosa) and දෙළුම්/Pomergranate (Punica granatum) fruits.

A Sri Lankan Endemic Birdwing Butterfly Leaving Its Chrysalis

Opaque 6-Lineblue (Nacaduba beroe minima)

An uncommon butterfly found in wet zone forests up to  900 m a.s.l.  Its larva feeds on flowers and flower buds of Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo (බඹර වැල්)

ගැරඬිදූල් වැල්/මැඩිය වැල් [Gerandi dul wel/Mediya wel](Cayratia pedata)

An indigenous liana grows in forest edges, river banks and roadsides up to 1000 m elevations. Flowering from August to June.

Flower size - 5-6 mm across