නයි බටු/දෙහෙල් බටු[Nai batu/Dehel batu]/Devil's apple/Cockroach berry (Solanum capsicoides)

An introduced undershrub native to tropical America. Escaped and naturalized along moist shady roadsides of the hill country up to montane areas.  

කරවල කැබැල්ල [Karawala kebella] (Antidesma bunius)

Common native tree of rocky forested areas on hillsides, stream sides & riverbanks up to 1500. Fruits edible.

Caracas rattle box(Crotalaria micans)

An introduced herb with woody base, native to tropical America.  Introduced as an ornamental and green manure. Escaped and naturalized along roads and waste places. Very common. 

Reissantia indica

Common native liana or struggling shrub of dry zone monsoon forests up to 800 m a.s.l. Flowering and fruiting from June to December.

Flower Size - 1 mm across

Giant mimosa/Giant sensitive Tree (Mimosa pigra)

An introduced  shrub native to the Mexico, Central and South America. First identified at the Mahaweli river bank near Kandy in 1996 (But probably colonized there since early 1980's.). It is now considered as a invasive plant and widely distributed along flood plains of some rivers and along roads when sand from the river bed has been used for road constructions. 

Pink wood sorrel(Oxalis debilis var. corymbosa)

An introduced herb native to the South America. Introduced to Sri Lanka as an ornamental, prior to 1882. Escaped and naturalized in the cultivated grounds and disturbed areas of mid country and higher elevation. Flowering probably throughout the year. Flowers open around 9. AM and close early afternoon. 

Sporobolus diandrus [Syn: Sporobolus diander]

Common native grass species widespread throughout the country, while absent only in the upper montane zone. It occurs as a weed of habitation and cultivation. But also found in the grasslands, seepage situations and forest glades. 

කිරි කෝන්/මල් පෙත්ත[Kiri Kon/Malpetta] (Walsura trifoliolata)

Common indigenous tree of dry zone forests (sub species - trifoliolata). Sub species acuminata grows in the wet zone. The bark and the ointment prepared from its fruits are used in traditional medicine.

කළු කඩුම්බේරිය/එළ තිඹිරි [Kalu Kadumberiya/Ela Thimbiri] (Diospyros oocarpa)

Rather rare native tree  of dry and intermediate zone forests and scrubs. 

මාර/පිනි මාර/පාරෙ මාර[Mara/Pini Mara/Para Mara]/Rain tree(Samanea saman[Syn: Albizia saman ])

An introduced tree native to the South America. Rain tree was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1851 and since then widely planted as an avenue tree along many roads. Its leaves and pods are used as fodder and wood can be used to make furniture. 

ලබු ගිරවා [Labu Girawa]/Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

An uncommon breeding resident from lowlands to mid hills. But locally more common in some areas. It is mainly a dry lowland bird though seldom occurs in the wet zone. Alexandrine Parakeet inhabits forests and wooded areas as pairs or as small to large flocks. It feeds on fruits, seeds, grains, etc. The breeding season is from November to May. The nest hole is usually a natural cavity or an old woodpecker's hole in a large dead or living tree, which the parakeets enlarge to suit its own needs. It lays 2-4 eggs in it. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

රස කිඳ/බූ කිඳ/වල් කිඳ[Rasa Kinda/Bu Kinda/Wal Kinda]/Tinospora/Gulancha/Guduchi (Tinospora sinensis)

An indigenous woody climber locally common in low altitude forests and open areas. Common in the dry districts.  Stems, leaves and roots are used medicinally for various ailments.

Oriental Honey-Buzzard/බඹර උකුස්සා/සිළු බඹරකුස්සා[Bambara Ukussa/Silu Bambarakussa] (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

Rather rare breeding resident occurs throughout the island while population may increase during the winter months by migrant birds. However it is considered that the majority of our Honey-buzzards are winter visitors arriving  from November to December and leaving in April. Eventhough few instances of nest building of this raptor has so far reported in the island, collecting of nesting materials and young birds have been observed. Also courting behavior and mating of pairs have been noted. It is mainly a forest bird though occasionally seen in open areas. Oriental Honey-Buzzard feeds mainly on wild bees and wasps and their larvae by raiding their nests. It also eats others insects, lizards and small mammals. In India, Oriental Honey-Buzzard builds its nest with sticks, twigs and green leaves in a forest tree and lays two eggs.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

මෑ කරල්/ ලී මෑ/වඳුරු මෑ[Me Karal/Li Me/Wanduru Me]/Black-eye Bean/ Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Trailing or climbing vine cultivated widely throughout the country as a food crops. 

රඹුටන්[Rambutan] (Nephelium lappaceum)

An introduced fruit tree native to Thailand and Malaysia. Widely cultivated in wet and intermediate zones up to 600 m a.s.l. Also naturalized. Flowering in April and November, Fruits from July to August and December to January. 

කලටිය[Kalatiya](Archidendron bigeminum)

An indigenous small tree of moist low country forests up to 1300 m a.s.l.

* Abarema bigemina (L.) Kosterm. & Abarema abeywickramae Kosterm. are synonyms

කිරිල්ල/ඔලුපැලිය[Kirilla/Olupeliya] (Glochidion stellatum)

An endemic shrub or small tree of wet primary and secondary forests and open hill side scrublands of medium altitudes.

බට/බට ලී [Bata/Bata Lee] (Ochlandra stridula)

Common endemic bamboo species occurs in moist low country to mid hill forests. Culms use in basket industry, make flutes and wattle while leaves utilize for thatching.

මහ බලුනකුට[Maha Balunakuta]/Pink Snakeweed/Changeable Vervain (Stachytarpheta mutabilis)

An introduced herb or sub-shrub cultivated as an ornamental. Also escaped and naturalized often
along roads in the vicinity of houses. Pink Snakeweed is a native plant of tropical America.

පලාල/පැලෑ/පෑල[Palala/Palae/Pala] (Xanthophyllum zeylanicum)

Common endemic tree of evergreen lowland wet zone forests up to about 600 m elevations. Flowering and fruiting from November to May.

කුරු කුඩා තණ [Kuru Kuda Tana] (Apluda mutica)

Common native rambling perennial occurs along roadsides and forest margins from sea level to about 2000 m elevations. 

වැල් කහඹිලියා [Wel kahabiliya]/Indian Stinging Nettle (Tragia involucrata)

An indigenous perennial twining herb with stinging hairs. A weed of cultivation and waste grounds.  

Oplismenus compositus

Common native perennial grows in shady habitats from sea level to over 1800 m a.s.l. 

Common Small Flat (Sarangesa dasahara albicilia)

Seasonally common insect flies mainly in the southeastern dry zone jungles up to 800 m a.s.l. Its main flight season is from April to June. Since it remains in a relatively small area for much of its life, Common Small Flat often seen flying in same locality day after day. Its larva feeds on  Lepidagathis fasciculata, Lepidagathis ceylanica and Lepidagathis walkeriana  leaves.

රත් තණ[Rat Tana] (Ischaemum ciliare [Syn: Ischaemum indicum])

Common native perennial of open areas, grassy glades in the lowland forests, roadsides, ditch banks, pond margins, lawns and in patana grasslands of the hills from lowlands to 2300 m elevations. 

දිය තණ[Diya tana] (Urochloa mutica [Syn: Brachiaria mutica])

An introduced perennial forming dense colonies in marshes, wet pastures, stream margins, tank edges and paddy fields from sea level to about 800 m elevations. 

Zornia gibbosa

Common native herb found in lawns and among short vegetation in the dry zone.

Flower size - 1-1.2 cm long

අද්දුල[Addula] (Ehretia aspera [Syn: Ehretia laevis])

An indigenous shrub or small tree common in forests, forest borders and roadsides of the dry zone.
Flower size - About 0.4 cm across

Cardiospermum grandiflorum

An introduced climbing herb native to the tropical America. Naturalized along forest margins and roadsides in Anuradhapura and Mathale districts. 

Stenotaphrum dimidiatum

Common native grass species occurs often in shades of trees along coast and inland at low to medium elevations. 

නයාදැස්ස[Nayadessa] (Eurya nitida)

Rather uncommon native shrub along submontane forest edges of the wet zone from 425 to 2100 m elevations. Flowering and fruiting from September to March.

Flower Size - 0.3-0.4 cm across

ඇපල[Epala] (Triumfetta rhomboidea)

Common native herb grows as a weed along roadsides and other ruderal areas.

Utricularia scandens

An indigenous terrestrial herb of bogs and wet grasslands from near sea level to 1100 m a.s.l. Flowering from December to March.

Indian Comet Grass (Paspalum sumatrense [Perotis indica])

 An indigenous annual or short-lived perennial widespread in open areas of forests and grasslands, roadsides and sandy soils near coast in both wet and dry zones from sea level to about 200 m a.s.l. 

Polygala chinensis

Common native prostrate herb occurs among grassy patches or sandy soil in the dry lowlands.
Flower size - 0.5 cm across

හක් ඇඹල[Hak Ambala]/Fringed begonia (Begonia hirtella)

An introduced herb native to tropical America. Escaped and naturalized widely in humid shady places of the wet mid country. Flowering all the year round.  

Zehneria thwaitesii [Syn: Neoachmandra deltoidea]

An indigenous slender climber with tendrils occurs in wet forests up to 1800 m elevations. 

Ischaemum barbatum

Common native grass of patanas, grassy stream banks and roadsides, pastures, lawns, pond margins etc. from seal level to 1900 m elevations. 

Utricularia hirta

Critically endangered, native terrestrial herb of damp or wet open grassy places in the wet lower hill country up to 900 m a.s.l. Flowering in February.  Utricularia hirta is the only Sri Lankan Utricularia species with hairs on the peduncle and on the inflorescence calyx.

Cyperus platyphyllus

Rather rare indigenous perennial growing in large tufts in marshy places of low altitudes. 

නා/නාමල්[Na/Namal]/Iron Wood (Mesua ferrea)

The national tree of Sri Lanka though not endemic to the country. Much cultivated as an ornamental in Buddhist temples and home gardens or as an avenue tree along roads. Wild trees found usually in river valleys in wetter part of the island up to about 1000 m a.s.l. Wood extremely hard. Flowers and leaves used in traditional medicine.

අමු[Amu] (Paspalum scrobiculatum)

Common native perennial occurs in open grassy areas, roadsides, patanas, ditches, margins of paddy fields, tanks and marshlands etc. from sea level to about 1900 m elevations. Cultivated form of Paspalum scrobiculatum is very rarely cultivated as a cereal. 

Henckelia humboldtiana [Syn: Didymocarpus humboldtianus]

An indigenous herb rather common mainly in the montane zone up to 1700 m a.s.l. Also found in the intermediate and dry zones. Early records also available from the wet lowlands. It grows in rock crevices and small pockets of soil on rock surfaces, mostly in the shade, but occasionally on moist exposed surfaces. Flowering throughout the year. 

Mistflower/Spreading snakeroot (Ageratina riparia [Syn: Eupatorium riparium])

Native herb of Mexico and West Indies. Probably introduced as an ornamental (Earliest specimen was collected from the neighborhood of  Hakgala Botanic garden in 1926). Escaped and widely naturalized along roadsides and tracks, margins of cultivation and forest edges and waste lands above 1300 m elevations.It has become a serious weed and listed as a invasive plant to Sri Lanka. Mistflower forms a dense strand and prevent the growth of native plants. Seeds spread by wind and water. Flowering from December to May and probably throughout the year.

ගිරා පලා[Gira pala] (Commelina indehiscens)

Rather uncommon native herb of evergreen forests and roadsides, often near streams from 250 to 1800 m elevations.  Flowering from November to January. 

යක්බේරිය[Yakberiya]/Rattle-box/Bird flower (Crotalaria laburnifolia)

Common native large herb of the low country. 

Painted Sawtooth (Prioneris sita)

Rather rare butterfly of mid hill forests from 600 to 900 m elevations, while descending to 400 m a.s.l. along southern and southwestern part of the hills. This butterfly mimics the poisonous Common Jeseble by size, coloration and wing pattern as well as the behavior, especially in its style of flight. However if disturbed it immediately flies away with great speed.  Painted Sawtooth males often settles on wet patches on ground for mud puddling. Female rarely encountered and spends much of its time inside the forest. Its larva feeds on Capparis moonii

Utricularia bifida

An indigenous small terrestrial herb found on wet soil and rocks, and as a weed in paddy fields from sea level to 1600 m a.s.l. Flowering in June, July and November to January. 

වල් ඇඹිල්ල/කටු ඇඹිල්ල[Wal Embilla/Katu Embilla] (Elaeagnus latifolia)

An indigenous shrub common in the shrub jungles around the patanas and forest edges in the mid hills of moist and intermediate zones. Flowering periodically throughout the year. Flowers fragrant and fruits edible. 

Sacciolepis indica

A common native grass in wet depressions and moist grassy slopes, sometime in partial shade from near sea level to over 1520 m elevations.