Monday, December 18, 2017

Indian Bur Grass (Tragus mongolorum [Syn: Tragus roxburghii])

Common native annual or short-lived perennial  occurs in coastal areas of dry and arid zones. Flowering all the year round.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Bank Swallow/ඉවුරු වැහිළිහිණියා/කරපටි ඉවුරුළිහිණියා[Iwuru Waehilihiniya/Karapati Iwurulihiniya] (Riparia riparia)

Rare but regular winter migrant to open areas, often near water of the dry lowlands. Mainly observed in the southern coastal areas. Usually seen on telephone wires/power lines together with Barn SwallowsSand Martin breeds in northern India and North America.

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Corkystem passionflower/Indigo berry (Passiflora suberosa)

Very common slender climber native to tropical America. Introduced and naturalized in forests and forest margins of all climatic zones up to 2000 m elevations. Flowering and fruiting from June to December.

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Eragrostis viscosa

Common native perennial mainly occurs in coastal lowlands of the dry zone, usually on sandy foreshores and saline flats in association of grasslands. Also known to extend to the wet zone up to 500 m elevations along roadsides, as a weed of tea estates and disturbed grounds.

Panicle - Usually 5-11 cm long &1-2 cm wide
Spikelets - 2-3 mm long &1-1.5 mm wide

Saturday, November 18, 2017

කවලු[Kavalu] (Setaria parviflora)

An introduced perennial weed common in open grassy areas, roadsides and patana lands from sea level to about 1500 m elevations. It is eaten by cattle. 

Friday, November 17, 2017

පොතු තණ[Potu Thana]/Carpet Grass (Axonopus compressus)

An introduced perennial native to tropical America. Naturalized and occurs in wide range of habitats as a ruderal and weed from sea level to about 1900 m a.s.l., mainly in the wet zone. It is used as a lawn grass.   

Thursday, November 16, 2017

බූ දෙනි තණ[Bu Deni Tana]/Bugseed Grass (Alloteropsis cimicina)

Common native grass species of most parts of the wet and dry lowlands up to about 1200 m a.s.l. of mid-hills  It occurs mainly in damp or shady sites in disturbed places, but also in varies other habitats including dry patana lands.  

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus [Syn: Panicum maximum])

An introduced and naturalized perennial often forming large clumps. Probably native to the Africa. It occurs commonly in open grassy areas, river banks, neglected lawns, roadsides, pastures and plantations from sea level to about 1000 m elevations.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

ගුරු තණ[Guru Tana] (Digitaria ciliaris)

An indigenous annual common along roadsides, paddy field borders, ditches and other disturbed sites from lowlands to intermediate elevations.