රට අත්තන/තුම්බෝ අත්තන[Rata Attana/Tumbo Attana]/Trumpet flower (Brugmansia suaveolens)

An introduced tall shrub or small tree native to the Southeastern Brazilian coastal rain forests. Widely cultivated in tea planting districts and also naturalized along streams above 400 m a.s.l. Flowering at the end of the dry season and during the rains. The flowers are usually white but yellow or pink color varieties also occurs.

කැලෑ කරපිංචා[Kela karapinchcha] (Phyllanthus baillonianus)

Native subshrub occurs in montane rain forests up to about 1500 m elevations. 

Common Acacia Blue (Surendra quercetorum)

Common butterfly flies all the year round in wetter parts of the island below 1000 m a.s.l. wherever its food plants grows. Its larva feeds on leaves of  Senegalia caesia (හිඟුරු-වැල්), Acacia pennata (ගොඩ හිඟුරු), Albizia lebbeck (සූරිය මාර), Falcataria moluccana (මාර) and Calliandra surinamensis.

Calliandra (Calliandra houstoniana var. calothyrsus [Syn: Calliandra calothyrsus])

Native tree of Northwest Panama to South Mexico. Introduced and cultivated as a shade tree in tea plantations. Leaves use as a fodder. 

Ophiorrhiza nemorosa

An endemic herb occurs in the hill country. Ecology unknown* (Flora of Ceylon Vol 12)

* Above pictures were taken in a forested mountainous roadside close to a stream. 

කිරි වැල්/මහ කිරි වැල්[Kiri wel/Maha kiri wel] (Gynochthodes umbellata [Syn: Morinda umbellata])

Common indigenous woody liana grows in wet zone up to 2000 m elevations. Flowering from February to April. 

නාපිරිත්ත/හීන් නාපිරිත්ත[Napiriththa/Heen napiriththa] (Hibiscus surattensis [syn Hibiscus furcatus])

Common indigenous scrambling and trailing shrubby or erect herb occurs in scrub lands, secondary vegetation, roadsides and waste places, especially near habitations in the low country.  Flowering from December to April.

*නාපිරිත්ත or Hibiscus furcatus Roxb. with short outward pointing lobes of epicalyx segments is now considered as a synonym of Hibiscus surattensis L. having epicalyx segments of large outward pointing lobes. (http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2849894)

කන් කුඹල[Kan kumbala]/Wild Ipecacuanha/Mexican milkweed/Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica)

An introduced herb native to West Indies.  Commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant and occasionally found as an escape.

තොලබෝ[Tolabo](Crinum asiaticum)

Common indigenous tall herb occurs in the moist lowlands. Common on the sandy seacoast, open areas and in coconut plantations. Also cultivated as an ornamental from low to mid elevations. Flowering throughout the year and strongly fragrant flowers opening in the evening. Bulbs and leaves are used in  traditional medicine. 

Sanchezia spp.

An introduced Sanchezia species cultivated in gardens, native to the tropical South America. It could be S. parvibrateata, S. speciosa or S. nobilis*

* Illustrated field guide to the flowers of Sri Lanka, Vol 1, J. & J. de Vlas, 2008.

Acilepis nemoralis [Syn: Vernonia nemoralis]

An uncommon endemic herb or sub-shrub occurs along streams and moist tracksides from sea level to about 1200 m elevations in the southwestern wet zone.  Flowering from February to May.

Copper pod/Yellow flame/Yellow poinciana (Peltophorum pterocarpum)

An introduced tree commonly cultivated along roads as an ornamental. 

වල් තේ කොළ [Wal te kola]Ceylon tea/Spanish needle/Beggar's tick (Bidens pilosa [Syn: Bidens pilosa var. minor])

An introduced herb native to temperate and tropical America. Naturalized in Sri Lanka and occurs as two varieties.
var. pilosa - Without or usually with very small white ray flowers. Only known from Peradeniya-Kandy area. Flowering from November to March.
var. minor(Above pic) - Very common weed of roadsides, disturbed places, cultivated grounds, etc. in the montaze zone. Flowering occurs throughout the year.

පාවට්ටා [Pavetta] (Pavetta blanda)

An indigenous shrub or treelet occurs in primary and secondary forests in the wet lowlands and hills. 

නෙල්ලි[Nelli] (Phyllanthus emblica)

A tree of monsoon forests, savannah and dry patanas. Also widely cultivated in gardens. Native or introduced to Sri Lanka in the ancient time. Fruit edible and whole plant medicinal. 

Oyster plant/Moses-In-The-Rushes/Two ladies in a boat(Tradescantia spathacea)

An introduced herb native to Mexico and Guatemala. Cultivated and occasionally naturalized locally. Flowering throughout the year

සුදු කිඹුල්වැන්න[Sudu Kimbulwenna]/Water smartweed (Persicaria pulchra [Syn: Persicaria attenuata/Polygonum tomentosum/Persicaria attenuata subsp. pulchra/Polygonum pulchrum)

Common native herb occurs along tank margins, ditches, paddy fields and such wet places in the lowlands. Particularly in the dry zone. 

Sri Lankan Cascader (Zygonyx iris ceylonicus)

An endemic dragonfly rather common at mid elevations of the southwestern wet zone. Also occurs in the intermediate zone, but absent in the coastal areas and higher hills. Fast flowing water near waterfalls and cascades are the preferred habitats of this rather large size cascader. It can be seen gliding continuously over the water with swift turns in such habitats. 

Scrotochloa urceolata [Syn: Leptaspis urceolata]

Rather uncommon indigenous perennial occurs in low country to mid hill forests.  

Garlic Vine (Mansoa hymenaea)

An introduced vine native to the central America. Cultivated in gardens. Bruised leaves has a garlic smell, hence the name Garlic vine. 

තිබ්බටු/ගෝන-බටු[Tibbatu, Gona-Batu] (Solanum torvum)

Common introduced shrub naturalized along roadsides and waste places especially in the wet zone up to about 1400m alt. Flowering throughout the year. 

Artillery Plant/Gunpowder plant (Pilea microphylla)

An introduced prostrate herb native to tropical America. Naturalized in the low country and common in the crevices of stone walls, moist walls of houses, and gardens. Also cultivated in pots. Flowers very small (0.05 - 0.15 cm) and male flowers explosively discharged their pollen into the air. Hence the above vernacular names.  Flowering and fruiting occurs throughout the year.

නිල් මොණරැස්ස[Nil Monarassa] (Utricularia reticulata)

An indigenous insectivorous* terrestrial herb occurs in marshy grasslands, shallow wet soil overlying rocks, paddy fields and pond margins in the low country up to about 750 m a.s.l. Flowering from October to March and throughout the year in permanently wet habitats.

* Read  Bladderwort (Utricularia moniliformis) for more details on small protozoans and insect larva capturing traps of bladderwort flower family plants.  

Scarlet Sage/Tropical Sage (Salvia splendens)

An introduced ornamental shrub native to the Brazil. Popular bedding plant of gardens.

වල් දෙහි/යකිනාරන්/‍යක් දෙහි[Wal dehi/Yakinaran/YakDehi] (Atalantia ceylanica)

An indigenous shrub occurs in both dry and wet low country and lower hills.  Leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine.

බලු නකුට[Balu nakuta]/Jamaican vervain/Blue snakeweed(Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Native herb of tropical America. Introduced and widely naturalized along roadsides, waste places, open country, etc. Flowering throughout the year. 

Persicaria chinensis

Native woody herb or sub-shrub climbing and scrambling over other vegetation along roadsides and forest margins in wet montane areas. 

Cola-nut/කෝලා [Colay] (Cola nitida)

Native plant of West tropical Africa from Guinea to Ghana. Introduced into Sri Lanka in 1879. The seeds contain caffeine and are used in the manufacture of soft drinks.

නෙළු[Nelu] (Strobilanthes vestita)

An endemic under shrub occurs in secondary hill forests from 900 to 2000 m a.s.l, usually near streams.  

කලුකම්බේරිය[Kalukamberiya] (Solanum americanum)

An introduced and naturalized common weed in cultivation, roadsides, waste places, especially in the montane zone up to 2000 m a.s.l. Flowering throughout the year. Native to sub tropical and tropical America. The leaves are sometimes used as a vegetable.

Golden dewdrop/Brazillian skyflower/Heliotrope bush/Pigeon berry(Duranta erecta[ Duranta repens])

An introduced shrub or small tree native of Florida to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. Cultivated as an ornamental in gardens. Flowering throughout the year. 

Ophiorrhiza glechomifolia

Very rare critically endangered endemic procumbent herb occurs in lowland rain forests. 

දං/හීන් දං [Dan/Heen dan] (Syzygium caryophyllatum)

 Native shrub or shrubby tree common in the secondary forests and open sandy areas of wet lowlands and margins of the intermediate zone. Fruits edible. Flowering from February to May.