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.
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.
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 ceylanicaand Lepidagathis walkeriana leaves.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
An indigenous low shrub occurs in shady moist areas, along streams or borders of tea estates and open places or cleared slopes along roadsides among bushes or patana margins mainly in the Kandy district. Flowering from January to March. Fruits edible and collecting to make Jam.
Rather rare native perennial of scrub and rocky places in the hill country rain forests from 900 to 2000 m elevations. Often found close to rivers and streams or in the spray zone of waterfalls. Large herb
of about 60-150 cm tall.
Rather common native terrestrial orchid species found among grass and other weeds on the slopes and hill cuttings in the submontane zone between 915 and 1524 m elevations.