Hyacinth Orchid (Satyrium nepalense)

Rather common indigenous terrestrial herb grows among grass in wet patana lands above 1200 m elevation. Flowering from September to April.

බෝවිටියා/කටකළුවා/මහා බෝවිටියා[Bovitiya/Katakaluwa/Maha bovitiya]Malabar blackmouth(Melastoma malabathricum)

Common native shrub occurs along roadsides, river banks, disturbed places and thickets in wet and montane zones. Flowering throughout the year. The pulp inside the fruit is edible and it stains black. Hence the vernacular name Katakaluwa (Meaning 'Black mouth')

*Unlike this aberrant specimen of 6 petal flower with 12 stamens, usually Melastoma malabathricum flower is pentamerous and it has 10 stamens (5 long and 5 shorter). 

Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus)

An active sparrow-sized breeding resident, much common in the hill country forests and the habitats close to home gardens. It also flies in the low country but less common and shy unlike tamer birds of the hills. It lives as pairs or as small family flocks, flitting from tree to tree in search of small insects like beetles, moths, caterpillars, etc. hiding on bark-crevices or flakes of lichens on trees. It breeds from March to April and sometimes again in September-November. The nest is a mass of moss, fibres, feathers, etc. placed in a hole or cavity in a tree trunk/branch or sometime under eaves of a building.

* Parus cinereus (Cinereous Tit) was formerly confused with the P. major (Grey Tit/Great Tit)

Impatiens ciliifolia

An endemic small herb found in lowland to submontane forests in Southwestern wet zone. It occurs as two sub species.

•  I. c. ciliifolia - Moist shady places along stream and rivers from 100 to 750 m elevations.
•  I.c. sinharajensis - On riverside rocks or sometimes on mossy logs from 350 to 600 m elevations.

Corchorus aestuans

An indigenous erect or prostrate herb. Common weed in the dry zone.

වෙරළු[Weralu]/Wild Olive (Elaeocarpus serratus)

A common native tree of wet and intermediate zone forests from lowlands to about 900 m a.s.l. Often cultivated in home gardens for its edible fruits. 

අංකෙන්ද[Ankenda](Acronychia pedunculata)

An indigenous small tree common mainly in the wet areas from sea level to about 1600 m a.s.l.  Flowering from February to April. Bark used in medicine. 

වැල් මුද්ද[Vel mudda]/African globethistle (Sphaeranthus africanus)

An indigenous erect annual herb occurs in marshy or brackish situations at low elevations. Sometimes on the seashore. Flowering from November to May. 

සුදනා[Sudana]/Asthmaweed(Erigeron bonariensis [Syn: Conyza bonariensis)

An introduced erect herb native to South America. According to the Trimen it was introduced at Hakgala Botanical Garden about 1864 among seeds from St. Petersburge. Escaped and naturalized along roadsides, waste places, etc. in the tea growing areas. 

මීවැන්න/උල් කෙන්ද[Miwenna/Ul kenda](Huberantha korinti [Syn: Polyalthia korinti])

Common indigenous tree widespread in both wet and dry lowlands from sea level to about 300 m a.s.l. ( Rarely to 500 in the wet zone and 750 (At Ritigala) in the dry zone ). It occurs in riverine forests, back of mangroves etc. It confine to the disturbed vegetation in the wet zone though occurs in both primary and secondary forests in the dry areas. Fruits edible.

කඩොල්[Kadol]/Asiatic mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata)

Common native mangrove tree occurs along the east coast. Less common along the west and south coast. It grows in estuaries and lagoons with salt or brackish water. 

කනේරු[Kaneru]/Oleander (Nerium oleander)

An introduced shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean. Widely cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. Wild ancestors of this plant has pink flowers. Varies cultivars have white, red or dark pink flowers.

Tropical kudzu (Neustanthus phaseoloides [Syn: Pueraria phaseoloides)

An indigenous vine native to Southeast Asia. It is also believed that it was introduced as a ground cover and fertilizer to enhance fertility in coconut plantations and naturalized along roadsides and abandoned cultivated grounds. Often creeping over low vegetation. Flowering from November to March.

බෙරිය[Beriya]/Black Mangrove (Lumnitzera racemosa)

Common native shrub or small tree occurs in most mangrove swamps.

Brown-Banded Hunter Hawkmoth (Theretra silhetensis)

Location - Polgasowita.

Reference - The Lepidoptera of Ceylon - F. Moore, F.Z.S. Vol 2 Thretra nessus of Page 22 & Plate 85?

External links -  http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1803331

Rubus rugosus

An indigenous scrambling shrub grows under shade in bushy thickets along forest edges or in dense mossy forests of upper montane zone above 2000 m a.s.l. Flowering from February to May, July and November to December.

Littlebell/Three-lobed Morning Glory (Ipomoea triloba)

An introduced and naturalized vine native to tropical America and West Indies. Very common in waste lands, paddy field margins, fences, etc. Due to its common occurrences near paddy fields, it is believed that Littlebell was introduced contaminant in seed rice. 

Enicostema axillare

Common indigenous perennial herb, occurs in open sandy places among sparse grass, close to the beach in the dry zone. Flowering throughout the year. 

Rubber vine/Madagascar rubber vine/Purple trumpet (Cryptostegia grandiflora)

An introduced twining vine native to the Madagascar and neighboring islands. Cultivated in gardens as an ornamental. As per Trimen often naturalized in Sri Lanka near the shore (A Revised Hand Book to the Flora of Ceylon Vol 4)*. It is considered as a notorious invasive plant in tropical Australia.

* Probable naturalized vines observed at Karukkupone area, north of Chilaw.

මණ්ඩ/මඩ ගස්[Manda/Mada Gas]/Indian Mangrove/White Mangrove (Avicennia officinalis)

An indigenous shrub or small tree occurs in salt marshes, brackish places along the seashore and mangrove swamps. Flowering from August to October.

වැල් කරල් හැබ[Wel karal Haba]/Forest Burr/Creeping Cock's Comb(Pupalia lappacea var. orbiculata)

An indigenous herb occurs as two varieties in the island.

•  P, l, lappacea - Grows open dry places along forest edges.
•  P. l. orbiculata (Above Picture) - Common in the sandy places behind the shoreline.

Launaea sarmentosa

Common native prostrate herb occurs on sandy seashores above the high tide mark. Flowering from July to May and probably throughout the year. 

ඉකිලි/කටු ඉකිලි[Ikili/Katu Ikili]/Sea Holly (Acanthus ilicifolius)

Large indigenous perennial herb. Common along banks of estuaries and lagoons. Also occurs in marshy lands close to the sea shore. 

බූ තෙදිය/සෙවන් මැදිය[Bu thedhiya/Sewan medhiya]/Furniture Leaf (Ficus exasperata)

Common native tree grows in wet zone lowland areas up to 1000 m a.s.l. Flowers enclosed in figs. Leaves formerly used as sand papers

ගැඩුඹ[Gadumba]/Charcoal tree (Trema orientale [Syn: Trema orientalis])

Small to medium size native tree, very common in waste places and cleared areas up to 1525 m elevations. Flowering and fruiting from January to June. 

Bolivian Sunset Gloxinia (Seemannia sylvatica [Syn: Gloxinia sylvatica])

An introduced ornamental perennial. Cultivated mostly in the hill country home gardens.  

කොට දිඹුල[Kota Dimbula] (Ficus hispida)

Common indigenous small tree or shrub grows in open areas, river banks and secondary forests up to 1200 m a.s.l. Flowers enclosed in figs. Whole plant medicinal.

Railway Glory (Ipomoea cairica)

An indigenous vine occurs in waste lands, roadsides, stream banks, cultivated grounds, thickets and hedges. Also widely cultivated as an ornamental.  Original home of the plant is uncertain.

Asystasia chelonoides

An indigenous herb or small shrub common under shade of forests of the wet hill country, often close to streams. Flowering from January to June and August to October. 

කොස්[Kos]/Jak(Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Common introduced tree with unknown origin (Possibly South India). Widely cultivated (And also naturalized) due to its edible fruits which ripe mainly during March-April months of the year. Wood used in construction industry and to make furniture. Leaves - fodder. Two forms occurs in Sri Lanka
1) වරකා[Waraka] - Has firm pulp in the ripe fruits.
2) වැල [Wala] - Soft pulp in the ripe fruits.

Common Forest Thunbergia/Sweet Clock Vine (Thunbergia fragrans)

An indigenous slender twiner occurs along forest edges from lowlands to higher hills. Flowering throughout the year. 

තුත්තිරි[Tuttiri]/Love Grass (Chrysopogon aciculatus)

Very common native prostrate perennial occurs along roadsides, grasslands, waste places, lawns, etc. from sea level to about 1300m elevations. 

Green shrimp plant (Ecbolium ligustrinum)

Common native shrubby herb occurs under shade in dry and intermediate zone forests, mainly in the lowlands and occasionally up to about 500 elevations in the mid hills. Flowering throughout the year.

Lophatherum gracile

Erect indigenous perennial restricted to the southwestern wet zone forest undergrowth.  

දෙහි[Dehi]/True Lime/Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia)

An introduced small tree native to China and Indo-China. Widely cultivated throughout the island.

Joker (Byblia ilithyia)

Rare butterfly restricted to the scrub lands of northwestern coast from Chilaw to Jaffna.  Ormiston recorded of seeing numbers settled on a small bush at Palatupana of Hambantota district in 1909. But neither him nor anyone else met it there since. Its larva feeds on leaves of Tragia plukenetii (වැල් කහඹිලියා)

කල වැල්[Kala wel]/Mangrove beanstalk (Derris trifoliata)

Common native liana occurs in mangrove swamps. Stem fibers are used in making ropes and fishing lines. 

දිය දඟ[Diya danga] (Dolichandrone spathacea)

Rather uncommon native tree mainly found in mangrove swamps, lagoons and tidal marshes of the southwestern wet lowland coastline from Negombo to Galle*.  Flowers open at sunset and fall off early the next morning. Very fragrant flowers are pollinated by moths. Flowering from May to July.

* Above pictures were taken at the Anavilundhawa Ramsar wetland of the Puttalam district.

රත් පිටවක්කා[Rat Pitawakka]/Creeping Sebastiana (Microstachys chamaelea [Syn: Sebastiania chamaelea]

Rather common native annual herb occurs in open grasslands, cultivation, etc. Flowering in October, May and probably in other months as well.

Boehmeria virgata [Syn: Boehmeria macrophylla var. macrophylla]

An indigenous shrub occurs in wet montane forests from 650 to 1800 m elevations. Flowering from October to April.

එළ පිල[Ela Pila]/South African Hoarypea (Tephrosia noctiflora)

Introduced herb native to the Africa. Cultivated as a cover crop and now naturalized mainly in both wet and dry lowlands.

පුටු තණ[Putu Tana]/Egyptian crowfoot grass (Dactyloctenium aegyptium)

Common weed of dry and arid low country. Also extends to about 500 m elevations from sea level in the wet zone. It occurs waste grounds, cultivation, open grasslands and sandy soils near sea. 

අරලිය[Araliya]/Temple flower/Temple tree (Plumeria obtusa)

Native tree of Caribbean. Introduced and widely cultivated, often near Buddhist temples but also in home gardens and along roads. Flowering throughout the year. 

බලු දං [Balu Dan] (Ardisia elliptica)

Rather common native shrub occurs in the low country, especially in the coastal areas. Flowering and fruiting from September to April. 

බූ රේන්ද/ගෝවින්ද/වල් ගූරැන්ද/ගුලින්ද[Bu renda/Govinda/Wal Gurenda/Gulinda]/Common hedge bower(Volkameria inermis [Syn: Clerodendrum inerme])

An indigenous shrub common in saline marshes, tidal river banks, seashores and mangrove forest borders in both wet and dry zones. Flowering from March to April and July to August.

Tamarisk (Tamarix indica)

Native shrub or small tree confined to the sea coast of North and Northwestern provinces. Sometimes also occurs in more inland sandy brackish areas. 

වෙල් ආතා [Wel Atha]/Pond Apple/Alligator Apple/Monkey Apple (Annona glabra)

An invasive tree spreading aggressively in southwestern wet lowland marshy areas, mangroves, near paddy fields, forest edges, etc. Common near the coast.  Native tree of tropical and sub tropical coastal areas of the America and west Africa. 

Spermacoce articularis

Common indigenous perennial herb. Flowering from March to August.

දොඹ/තෙල් දොඹ[Domba,Tel-Domba]/Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum)

Common indigenous tree occurs mainly in the lowland coastal areas. Inland plants are either planted as ornamental or spontaneous.  Oil extracted from the seeds use as lamp oil, soap making and also painting wood works. Whole plant medicinal. 

Scarlet Flame Bean/Mountain Rose/Rose of Venezuela/Cooper Hoop (Brownea coccinea)

Native tree of Venezuela, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil Trinidad and Tobago. Introduced to the Peradeniya botanical garden in 1849. Cultivated as an ornamental tree.