Friday, September 7, 2018

වල් එඬරු [Wal Endaru] (Bupleurum ramosissimum [Syn: Bupleurum mucronatum])

Rather common indigenous herb found in rocky open places and patanas between 650-2300 m elevations from Belihuloya to Nuwaraeliya and Horton Plains, .Flowering from December to August (Probably throughout the year)

Flower size - About 2 mm across

Monday, September 3, 2018

Indigofera spicata

 Common introduced herb occurs mainly in the hill country road sides and weedy places. Sometime introduced in pastures.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Panicum brevifolium

Common native creeping annual grows in shade along forest edges, embankments, river banks, and in secondary vegetation from sea level to 1300 a.s.l. 

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Monday, August 6, 2018

Ichnanthus pallens

An indigenous perennial occurs in the wet montane zone in elevations of about 1000 m. Typical forest grass grows in damp shady places or clearings and similar open habitats.

Sunday, August 5, 2018

ගුරු කීන[Guru Kina] (Calophyllum calaba)

An indigenous tree common in the coastal parts of the dry zone, talawas of the dry and intermediate zone and rarely in the wet zone forests. Sometimes planted for its edible fruits. Flowering from January to June and fruiting from January to September. 

Saturday, August 4, 2018

ඊ තණ[Itana] (Heteropogon contortus)

Common indigenous grass species occurs in open grasslands and weedy places from sea level to about 1200 m elevations. 

Friday, August 3, 2018

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Pseudechinolaena polystachya

Rather rare native grass species which was considered as a Data Deficient one in the 2010 Red List. It grows usually in shade of forest trees from 300 to 600 m elevations. So far reported from Kandy, Peradeniya, Gannoruwa and Ambagamuwa of  Kandy district and Elkaduwa of  the Mathale district. This record is from the Reveston area of the Mathale district. 

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Syzygium spathulatum

An endemic small tree common in primary and secondary forests and degraded grasslands from 700-1500 m elevations in the hills bordering the drier eastern margins of the wet and intermediate zones. Fruit edible. 

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Coelachne simpliciuscula

Rather uncommon native grass species grows on moist or wet soil along lakes, streams, seeps and springs from somewhat lower elevations to higher hills. 

Monday, July 30, 2018

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Cyperus cyperinus

Common native perennial occurs in open grassy places of the hill country.  

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Eriocaulon thwaitesii

An indigenous slender tufted annual herb grows on wet patches on rock pavement, often among moss and on marshy ground from 800 to 2200 m a.s.l. Flowering from September to January.

Flower size - 4-5 mm across
Leaves - 3.5-9 cm long, 2-6 mm wide.

Friday, July 27, 2018

Phaulopsis dorsiflora [Syn: Phaulopsis imbricata]

Common native herb with straggling hairy stems, grows close to the streams of dry and moist lowland secondary forest undergrowth. Flowering from December to May.

Flower Size - 0.3-0.4 cm across

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata)

An introduced climber native to tropical East Africa. Cultivated as an ornamental. An escape from Botanic Gardens and naturalized along roadside embankments, tea plantations etc. Common in moist areas and hill country up to about 1500 m a.s.l. Flowering from August to February.

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Monday, July 23, 2018

Calanthe masuca

Rather common native terrestrial herb grows under the shade of trees in sub montane and montane zones. 

Saturday, July 21, 2018

ඇඹිල්ල[Ambilla]/Indian Mulberry (Morus alba)

An introduced small to medium size tree native to the China. Cultivated in home gardens and may be escaped too. Leaves can be used to feed silk worms.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

ජීවන්ති [Jeewanthi] (Leptadenia reticulata)

Common native shrub or twiner grows in deciduous scrub and forest edges of the dry zone.  Flowering from July to October. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

රතු වා [Rathu wa]/Ceylon cassia/Red cassia (Cassia roxburghii)

Common native tree of the dry zone. Often cultivated as an ornamental. The wood is used for handles of tools, hubs of wheels etc. 

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Cyphostemma trilobata [Syn: Cissus trilobata]

Common native liane of forest edges, roadsides and hedgerows in wet and intermediate zones, usually at low altitudes. Flowering from July to January. 

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Beak/Lobed Beak (Libythea laius lepitoides)

Rare butterfly distributed in same areas and similar habitats as it is of rather similar Club Beak. Its behavior is also similar to that of the Club Beak. Early stages of its life cycle is not yet recorded in Sri Lanka, though it is believed that Beak larva also feeds on the leaves of Celtis philippensis [මැදිතැල්ල] and Celtis timorensis [ගූරැන්ද/බූරැන්ද] as it is with the Club Beak.

Monday, May 21, 2018

කෙසෙල්[Kesel]/Banana/Plantain(Musa x paradisiaca)

An indigenous giant herb, widely cultivated for its edible fruits. Cultivated varieties are hybrids of Musa acuminata (ගල් කෙහෙල්/උනෙල්) and Musa balbisiana (ඇටි කෙහෙල්), both species are native to India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia

Sunday, May 20, 2018

දාඹු[Dhambu] (Lepisanthes tetraphylla)

An indigenous shrub or moderate size tree, common in dry zone forests (var. tetraphylla).

Variety trichocarpa which is endemic to the island and rarely occurs in the forests of moist regions up to 700 elevations, is frequent around the Kandy. Flowering from March to May.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Ixora thwaitesii

An indigenous shrub or small tree of moist and intermediate zone forests from lowlands to hill country up to about 1000 (2000) m a.s.l

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

West Indian rattlebox/Zanzibar rattlepod/Cusara pea (Crotalaria trichotoma[Syn: Crotalaria zanzibarica])

An introduced large herb native to tropical East Africa. Introduced as a green manure or cover crop. Escaped and naturalized along road sides, waste places etc. mainly in the hill country. 

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

බෝමී[Bomee] (Litsea glutinosa)

Common native moderate size tree of low country up to about 1000 m elevations. The wood is used for construction works. Bark and leaves medicinal and also used as insect repellents.