Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)

Common winter migrant to the lowlands. Mostly to the dry zone coastal areas such as lagoons, estuaries, mangroves, salt-pans, and sometime inland marshes, large tanks and flooded paddy fields. When feeding it keeps singly or in small or large flocks. Marsh Sandpiper feeds on small aquatic animals such as crabs, prawns, worms etc. It has a very fast flight and also can swim well. 

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Wood Sandpiper(Tringa glareola)

Common migrant to the coastal areas, lagoons, mudflats, marshes, tanks and paddy fields in the dry lowlands. Occasionally found in the hill country and wet lowlands. Unlike most other migrant waders Wood Sandpiper prefers freshwater bodies. It feeds on small aquatic insects, such as beetles, bugs, larvae, etc. usually as solitary birds or as small to large flocks.

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Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Common winter migrant to lagoons, estuaries, sand spits, salterns and large tanks of dry coastal areas. Scarce in wet coastal areas and inland wetlands. Also summer loiterer. It is also believed that possible breeding may occurs on Adam’s Bridge islets. It flies usually low over the water surface solitary or in small scattered flocks, every now and then dipping to catch water insects, fish, frogs, crabs, prawns etc. When not feeding it rests on sand banks often with other terns. Gull-billed Tern nests as colonies on sand banks on the shores of lagoons or sandy islets. Breeding season is from April to June.  

හික් මීයා/කුනු මීයා[Hik Meeya/Kunu Meeya]/Common Musk Shrew/House Shrew (Suncus murinus)

Common Musk Shrew is the most common, widespread and also largest of the ten species of shrews in Sri Lanka. It inhabits houses even in large cities throughout the island as well as some of the off-shore islets (Phillips W.W.A. 1980). During the day time it hides in crevices of walls, boxes, piles of goods and emerges in the evening. It is a nocturnal animal and it is said that because of its high metabolic rate shrew eat its own body weight of food in the course of a night. House Shrew is a carnivores animal and it preys on geckos, worms, scorpions  insects [ex: cockroaches], spiders and even small mammals - sometime bigger than its own size - like mice, frogs and snakes. It also eats grains such as rice and fruits when others foods are scarce. It is believed that House Shrew is not indigenous to the Sri Lanka and has been imported many years ago with goods from Indian port cities (Phillips W.W.A. 1980). House Shrew is an animal beneficial to the man since it preys upon most noxious animal live in houses and also driving away rodents.

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Common Kestrel occurs as two sub species in the island. European Kestrel or race tinnunculus is an uncommon winter migrant to the open country, forests and scrub lands of all climatic zones while Indian Kestrel or race objurgatus is a scarce breeding resident in the hills. According to the Dr Sarath Kotagama race interstinctus or Eastern Kestrel is also occurs as an uncommon migrant to the all zones of the island (Kotagama S. & Rathnavira G. 2010). Common Kestrel feeds mainly on lizards and insects like grasshoppers. It also preys on nestlings of ground-nesting birds, whenever it can find them (Henry G.M. 1998). The breeding season of the resident race is from March to June and it is said that it doesn't build a nest but deposits 2- 3 eggs on a ledge of rock on the face of an inaccessible cliff. While its staying in the country Common Kestrel is mostly a solitary bird and can be seen frequently hovering or perching on high branches in search of small animals to prey on with its keen eyes. 

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Black Drongo/කළු කවුඩා[Kalu Kavuda] (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Locally common breeding resident in north and north-western dry lowlands of the country. Uncommon in north-central area and occasionally some birds are reported in southern parts during the winter migration period (Warakagoda D. et. al., 2012).  It inhabits open areas, forests and scrub lands usually as solitary birds or in pairs. Black Drongo feeds on flying insects, sallying forth from a fence, branch of a tree, telephone or power line, or any other such vantage point.  Like other drongos Black Drongo also mimics calls of varies other birds, cat etc. The breeding season is from March to May and it makes a cup shape nest with fine twigs, fibers  and cobwebs and placed it in a fork of a tree often in very exposed situations. Black Drongo can be distinguished easily from other drongoes by all black body and pale spot at base of the bill.

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නිල් අඬණහිරිය/යක්බේරිය[Nil-andana-hiriya]/Yak-bairiye/Blue rattlesnake (Crotalaria verrucosa)

An indigenous very common herb of about 1m tall grows along roadsides and waste lands of both wet and dry lowlands.

Small Cupid (Chilades parrhasius nila)

Small Cupid is an uncommon butterfly confined to the northern dry zone of the island.  It can be easily confused with the superficially similar Plain Cupid. But Plain Cupid (30mm) is larger than Small Cupid (20mm) and restricted to the wet zone of the island where latter does not fly. Its larva feeds on tender leaves of  Acacia eburnea (කුකුල් කටු/ගිනි අන්දර/Cockspur Thorn), Acacia leucophloea(මහ අන්දර/කටු අන්දර) and Acacia planifrons.

විෂ්නුක්‍රාන්ති[Vishnu-kranti]/Little Glory/Dwarf morning Glory (Evolvulus alsinoides)

A trailing herb common in open areas, sandy grounds, roadsides, beaches and cultivated fields in almost any dry site but much more abundant in the dry zone. The plant is native to tropical America and introduced to the island in some unknown period of the history. However it is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure almost anything from depression to dysentery (Flora of Ceylon Vol 1 1980)

Gram Blue (Euchysops cnejus)

An uncommon butterfly found in intermediate and dry zones of the Sri Lanka. However it is more plentiful in the north of the island. According to the Woodhouse it is to be found, chiefly in February, March and May in the dry zone, particularly the north of the island (Woodhouse LG.O., 1950). Ormiston noted that it is frequently a serious pest to the gram crops in South India (Ormiston W.,  1924). Hence its vernacular name. However according to the de’Abrera it has yet to prove so in Sri Lanka (de’Abrera B., 1998 ). Gram Blue is subject to considerable seasonal variation in size and the intensity of blue on its wings.  Its larva attended by ants and feeds on various plants of the family Fabaceae such as Macroptilium lathyroides (Wild bushbean), Neustanthus phaseoloides, Vigna marina, Vigna trilobata, Vigna unguiculata (මෑ කරල්/ ලී මෑ/වඳුරු මෑ/Black-eye Bean/Cowpea), Vigna radiata (මුං/මුං ඇට/බූ මෑ/Green gram/Jerusalem pea/Mung bean), Vigna mungo (බූ මෑ/මුං/උළුඳු/Black gram), Abrus precatorius (ඔළිඳ/Crab's Eyes/Indian Liquorice) and Canavalia rosea.

වෙල් තිබ්බටු[Wel-tibatu] (Solanum trilobatum)

An uncommon indigenous slender prickly scrambling shrub grows in northern dry lowlands. Flowering during the rainy season. The fruits are edible and whole plant is used in Ayurvedic medicine. According to the Flora of Ceylon (Vol 6 page 382) “The lack of recently collected materials may indicate that it is decreasing in occurrence”

කකුළු ඔලෙවියා[Kakulu Olewiya]/Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola)

Rare and local breeding resident bird found in beaches, lagoons, estuaries, sandbanks and coral reefs on the north and north-western coast. Occasionally found in other dry coastal areas. It lives in solitary, in pairs or as small flocks. Its main food consists of crabs and probably other small marine animals such as sand-worms and molluscs captures while wading or waking along tide-marks of the seashore or in the shallow water of lagoons. The breeding season is from May to June and it dig a tunnel of 2-4 feet long into sand bank beside a beach and at the end hollow out a small chamber in which it lays a single egg. 

මහ යක්වැනැස්ස[aha-yakwanassa]/ Lion’s ear (Leonotis nepetifolia)

Maha-yakwanassa is an indigenous locally common herb in waste places, roadsides etc. in dry and intermediate zones from lowlands to about 400m. Flowering from November to June. 

Sociable Glider (Tramea limbata)

Common dragonfly found in marshes, tanks, ponds etc. in both wet and dry zone lowlands. 

Baya Weaver/රුක් වඩු කුරුල්ලා[Ruk Wadu Kurulla] (Ploceus philippinus)

Common resident bird in the reed beds, paddy fields and marshy areas of the dry lowlands while local and uncommon in wet lowlands. It lives as large flocks. Baya weaver feeds on cultivated grains such as rice, Kurakkan, etc. and varies others seeds. It also takes insects to some extent. It breeds throughout the year in colonies. Male bird builds long pendulous nest usually overhanging the water.  Number of nests usually builds in a single tree where female bird lays 2-4 white eggs. 

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මූකලන් කොට්ටෝරුවා[Mookalan Kottoruwa]/Yellow-fronted Barbet (Megalaima rubricapillus)

Locally common endemic bird of forests and well wooded gardens from wet lowlands to mid hills.  Also occurs but scarce in eastern foothills and higher hills. Yellow-fronted Barbet feeds mainly on fruits. The breeding season is from February to May and again from August to September though occasional nests sometimes found at other months of the year.  It lays two or three white eggs in a hole of a soft-wooded dead stem or branch of a tree pecked out by birds themselves.

Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochilus)

Grass Jewel is one of the smallest butterfly of the island common in grasslands and open areas in lowlands up to about 300 m. Its larva feeds on  Indigofera linnaei (බිං අවරි), Indigofera oblongifolia, Indigofera tinctoria (නිල් අවරි) and probably on Indigofera colutea.

  

ගම් කපුටා/කලු කපුටා [Kalu Kaputa/Gam Kaputa]/Jungle Crow/Large-billed Crow (Corvus levaillantii)

Very common resident bird throughout the country while relatively uncommon in urban areas where House crow is abundant. It usually encounters as pairs or sometime as small flocks. Unlike House crow, Jungle crow is less dependent on man and sometime found in jungle areas remote from human habitations. Its food consists of both animal and vegetables subtances and also scavenges on carrions and human wastes. It place its nest which is a heap of twigs in a tall tree during April to September and lays 3-4 eggs.  

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Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)

Very common winter migrant to gardens, plantations and open wooded areas from lowlands to mid hills. It is frequent in shaded locations with trees. Sometimes even in densely populated cities as long as such habitats available.  Asian Brown Flycatcher is superficially similar to another migrant Brown-breasted Flycatcher but can be easily distinguished by the dark grey color legs of this while it is flesh-color of the latter. While in Sri Lanka it is mostly solitary bird and can be seen usually darting after small flying insects from a twig of a tree and often return back to the same perch or to a neighboring one with the captured prey on its bill, since it is very attached to its territory . 

Mottled Emigrant/African Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe minna)

Common butterfly found in gardens and open areas, especially in lowlands and up to about 500m. It is a migratory species and during the migratory season (North East Monsoon period) it can be seen in all elevations of the island usually as swarms. It often use to settles on the underside of leaves so that it is difficult to distinguished it from the foliage. Also sometimes settles in swarms on damp earth to absorb minerals. It is now generally accepted that former African Emigrant (Catopsilia florella) is conspecific with C. pyranthe. Its larval host plants are  Senna sophera, Cassia fistula (ඇහැළ/Indian Laburnum/

Shower of Gold), Cassia roxburghii (රතු වා/Ceylon cassia/Red cassia), Senna alata (රට තෝර/Candle bush/Candle stick/Rinworm shrub), Senna auriculata (රණවරා/Matara Tea/Tanner's Cassia)

Senna didymobotrya (රට තෝර), Senna hirsuta (Stinking Cassia), Senna occidentalis (පැණි තෝර/Coffee Senna/Coffee Weed), Senna surattensis (Scrambled-egg-tree), and Senna tora (පෙති තෝර/Pot Cassia/Sickle Senna)

වලිකුකුලා[Wali-Kukula]/Sri Lanka Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetii)

Fairly common endemic bird found in forests and dense scrubs from low lands to higher hills. Junglefowl keeps in pairs or small groups mainly inhabiting on ground and flying up to a tree when threatened. It roosts high in trees during night solitarily or in small groups. It’s food mainly consist of grain,  berries, leaves and buds as well as small insects such as grasshoppers, termites etc. Junglefowl 's  main breeding season is from December to April and probably again from August to September. The nest is a scrape in ground beneath a tree, beside a dead log or on a pile of vegetation.

දුම්මැල්ල/කුනුමැල්ල/පතෝල[Dum-mella/Kunu-mella/Pathola]/Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina)

Common indigenous climbing herb grows in low country, mainly in dry zone. Trichosanthes anguina (Snake Gourd/Pathola) - cited as synonymy of T. cucumerina -  is a common cultivated vegetable with much larger fruits. 

Pale-billed Flowerpecker/පිළිලිච්චා/ලාතුඩු පිළිලිච්චා [Pililichcha/Latudu Pililichcha] (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos)

Very common breeding resident found all over the Sri Lanka. Pale-billed Flowerpecker is the smallest bird of the island which frequents the canopy of tall trees and gardens, feeding on juicy fruits of many kinds while parasitic Loranthus species (Pilila) being its favorites  This bird helps to spread sticky seeds of Loranthus  by adhering them to the branches of trees. Beside fruits it also eats many small insects and spiders. The breeding season lasts from January to August and it build a nest – a small bag of cotton and fibers slung from a twig high up in a tree- placed among large leaves where it lays two white eggs. 

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Mussaenda erythrophylla

Mussaenda erythrophylla is an erect shrub introduced as an ornamental plant and widely cultivated in home gardens. It is said to have originated in the Congo. Its pinkish sepals are more prominent than small yellow flowers (insert)

Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)

Common breeding resident in grasslands, scrublands and paddy fields in low country dry zone. Usually seen as pairs or solitary birds. Also not uncommon in suitable habitats in wet zone and hills like in tea plantation. It feeds on seeds, termites etc. picking up from the ground usually in the morning and evening. In this bird, the normal role of the sexes is reversed and female courts males uttering long purring call and she also practices polyandry. Having laid 2 to 4 eggs in a nest compose of dry grass, rootlets etc. in a hollow at the base of a small shrub, she leaves while her mate incubate them and bring up the chicks. The breeding season last for most of the year but most likely months are January to March and again July to August of the year. 

Brazil pusley/Mexican clover (Richardia brasiliensis)

Perennial prostrate herb native to Brazil, introduced and now very common weed along roadsides and in plantations and gardens from lowlands to the hills. It can be easily distinguished from all other similar small white flower plants by its 6 lobes corolla, since all other small white flowers in Sri Lanka have 4 or 5 corolla lobes. 

Commander (Moduza procris)

Common butterfly flies from lowlands to about 1500m. However it is much common in the hills from 500m to 1200m especially near rivers and streams in wooded areas and on jungle paths. Commander takes part in migrations and it is extremely swift in plight. It occasionally settles on wet patches on the road to absorb minerals. Its larva feeds on Mussaenda samana, Mitragyna tubulosa, Mitragyna parvifolia (හැළඹ), Mussaenda frondosa (මුස්සැන්ද/වෙල්-බුත්සරණ), Timonius flavescens, Uncaria elliptica, and Wendlandia bicuspidata (රාවන් ඉදල/වන ඉදල/රත් වැනිදල). Apart from that egg laying only was also observed on Gaertnera vaginans (පේර තඹල).

Firecracker flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis)

An indigenous common herb found in the shade of shrubs close to watercourses from lowlands to mid hills. Also planted in home gardens as an ornamental plant. Flowering throughout the year.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

A common breeding resident of dry lowland marshes, lagoons, tanks, mangroves and estuaries. Rare in wet lowlands and hills. It feeds on fish usually as solitary birds but at times as large flocks when fish density is high in an area. Grey Heron is more active during dawn and dusk. Its breeding season lasts from December to April and builds a nest – a large mass of sticks – placed among the branches of a tree growing in shallow water usually with other water birds known as heronries.

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Dopatrium nudicaule

 An indigenous herb grows among short grasses in wet places in the lowlands and wet hills up to about 500 m. Common on wet rocky surfaces and sometime also found in paddy fields. Flowering from November to July.

Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus)

Common butterfly found from lowlands to about 1000 m above sea level throughout the year, but more visible in the center and north of the island. Its larva feeds on Dendrophthoe falcata, Dendrophthoe ligulata, Taxillus cuneatus and Scurrula cordifolia of the family Loranthaceae.

Pink Skimmer (Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum)

Very common dragonfly found in weedy tanks, marsh lands, paddy fields and streams from lowlands to the hills. 

රතු දෙමලිච්චා[Rathu Demalichcha]/Orange-billed babbler ( Turdoides rufescens)

Orange-billed babbler is a locally common endemic bird found in wet lowland and adjoining hill country forest areas. It lives as flocks of 7-10 individuals or more and also a regular species in ‘mixed feeding flocks’. It feeds on insects and also jungle berries, fluttering from tree to tree in lower foliage of trees and understorey of the forest. Little information available on its nesting habitats and breeding season is said to be from January to May and grass cup nest well hidden among creepers or bush and deep greenish eggs resembles Orange-billed babbler’s nest and eggs and difficult to distinguished.

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Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda)

Very common butterfly found all over the island. It has a crepuscular habit and can be seen on the wing at dawn and dusk, though sometime active even day time in shady places. Under side of wings vary with season and wet season form is much darker than dry season form as shown in above figures. Common Evening Brown larva feeds by night on varies type of grasses [Arundo donax,  Eleusine indica (බැල තණ/වල්මල් කුරක්කන්/Goose Grass), Cenchrus ciliaris, Imperata cylindrica (ඉලුක්/Blady Grass/Spear Grass/Cogon Grass), Ischaemum timorense  Leersia hexandra (ලෙව්/Bareet Grass), Panicum maximum(ගිනි තණ/Guinea grass) Setaria barbata ] and paddy (Oryza sativa) of the family Poaceae. Its larva also fed on Carpet grass/පොටු තණකොළ (Axonopus compressus) only when offered in the lab.

කොන්ඩ කුරුල්ලා[Konda kurulla]/Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

Very common breeding resident occurs in home gardens, cultivation  forest edges and scrub lands throughout the country but avoids deep forests. Red-vented Bulbul lives as pairs but some time gathered as small flocks. Its main food consist of varies berries and insects. It is a prolific bird which breeds several times of the year while main breeding seasons are from March to May and again August to September. The nest is a cup made up of small twigs, fibers, rootlets bound together by cobwebs where it lays 2-3 eggs.

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Marsh Dancer (Onychargia atrocyana)

An uncommon damselfly found in surrounding vegetation of paddy fields, tank edges etc. in wet zone lowlands and lower hills.

ඇපල/කපු කිනිස්ස[Epala/Kapu-Kinissa] (Triumfetta pentandra)

An indigenous herb common in grasslands and roadsides of dry and arid zones. 

කවුඩා[Kawuda]/White-bellied Drongo(Dicrurus caerulescens)

Common breeding resident from lowlands to mid hills. It occurs as two races D.c. insularis (White-bellied Drongo) is the dry zone form which is common in dry lowlands and drier hills and D.c.leucopygialis (White-vented Drongo) common in wet zone and near by hills. It inhabits well wooded country, tea and rubber plantations, and home gardens but avoids deep forests. White-bellied Drongo lives as solitary birds or as pairs. It feeds on flying insects catching on wing from sallying out a fence post or telegraph wire probably to come back to same perch with its catch. It has a habit of imitating other birds such as Shikra, Magpie- robin etc. and mewing of the cat. It breeds from February to March.

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Three-spot Grass Yellow (Eurema blanda silhetana)

Three-spot Grass Yellow is a very common insect found in the low country wet zone and hills while becoming rare towards the North of the country. The larva feeds on Archidendron clypearia subsp. subcoriaceum (මිමිණි මාර), Entada zeylanica, Albizia chinensis, Albizia lebbeck, Albizia odoratissima, Archidendron bigeminum (කලටිය), Caesalpinia bonduc (කුඹුරු/කුඹුරු වැල්/කළු වවුලැටිය/Grey Nicker), Caesalpinia hymenocarpa, Cassia fistula (ඇහැළ/Indian Laburnum/Shower of Gold), Entada rheedei (පුස් වැල්), Falcataria moluccana, Senna alata (රට තෝර/Candle bush/Candle stick/Rinworm shrub), Senna surattensis (Scrambled-egg-tree), Calliandra surinamensis and Acacia decurrens of family Fabaceae. 

ගන්වෙද/වල් තිප්පිලි[Gan-veda/Val-tippili] (Croton hirtus)

An introduced herb native to tropical South America. Common in wastelands, road sides and as a weed in cultivation.

Kaha-yatimal Kirala/Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

An uncommon breeding resident found usually in very dry habitats of dry lowlands. It is common in coastal belt from Puttalam to Jaffna peninsula and in Hambantota district. It also occurs in Eastern province and there are recent breeding records from Udawalawe and Anuradhapura too. It lives as small flocks or pairs in arid wastelands, fallow fields, dry paddy fields, stony pastures etc. Yellow-wattled Lapwing feeds on grasshoppers, ants, termites, beetles and other such ground dwelling insects. It breeds from May to July, laying four eggs arranged in cross-formation on stony ground among clods, stones, etc. well camouflage with the surrounding. It flies often low and in flight feet project beyond the tail. 

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Asystasia variabilis

An indigenous common herb found in waste lands, forest edges, along borders of paddy fields etc. in wet lowlands and hill country.  An indigenous herb common under shade along streams and footpaths in wet lowlands to mid country secondary forests. Flowering from August to March.*

* Text and species name of the initial post was changed according to the Jep de Vlas's comment below and correct identification given in the subsequently published his second book on flora of Sri lanka.

Tailed Jay/Green Jay (Graphium Agamemnon menides)

Tailed Jay is a common butterfly found in all elevations of the country throughout the year. However it is much common in the wet zone. It flies very fast and only stops a very short time at each flower. Also when disturbed it take off vertically to considerable height before fly away. So that Tailed Jay is considered as a very difficult butterfly to photograph. The larva feeds on various plants of family Annonaceae such as Annona muricata (කටු අනෝදා/කටු ආත්තා/රට අනෝදා/Soursop), Annona reticulata (අනෝදා/වැලි ආත්තා), Annona squamosa(සීනි ආතා/අනෝදා/Sugar Apple), Annona glabra (වෙල් ආතා/Pond Apple/Alligator Apple/Monkey Apple), Annona cherimola, Uvaria zeylanica (පාලඟ/පලු කන්),Uvaria macropoda, Uvaria narum, Uvaria semecarpifolia, Uvaria sphenocarpa, Artabotrys zeylanicus (කලු බඹර වැල්/පටික වැල්/යකඩ වැල්), Artabotrys hexapetalus, Polyalthia korinti (මීවැන්න/උල් කෙන්ද), Polyalthia longifolia (දේවදාර/ඊ පෙත්ත/ඕවිළ/ඕලිල), Polyalthia suberosa, Polyalthia cerasoides, Miliusa indica (කෙකිළි මැස්ස/කුකුළු මැස්ස), Miliusa tomentosa, Goniothalamus gardneri and Xylopia championii. Tailed Jay larva also feeds on සපු/Champak (Michelia champaca)  and  Persea americana (අලිගැට පේරAvacado/Alligator pear). 

ඇත් උඳුපියලිය[Et-Undupiyali]/Asian ticktrefil (Grona heterocarpos [Desmodium heterocarpon])

An indigenous herb found in grasslands, roadsides and waste lands in moist low country and lower montane areas. Very common plant flowering from May to September and again in November. Sometimes white flowers occur instead of usual purple.