The Enchanted Isle

A Greentours Trip Report

18th February to 8th March 2013

Led by Paul Cardy

Trip Report and Systematic Lists written by Paul Cardy

Day 0/1 Monday February 18th, Tuesday February 19th Journey to Sri Lanka, and to

Both flights arrived on schedule, and Mr Silva was at the airport early in the morning to meet first the group arriving from London, and shortly afterwards me coming from Italy via Abu Dhabi.

Once aboard the spacious bus we drove through reasonably quiet streets in the dark although there was already quite a bit of traffic on the road. Once light, very common birds began with House and Jungle Crows; a selection of egrets; Red-vented Bulbul; White-throated Kingfisher; and Rose-ringed Parakeets. We also drove past a very large Flying Fox roost.

After about two and a half hours we reached a bustling Kandy, and our hotel, The Suisse. Around the lake were Indian Cormorants, Spot-billed Pelican, Little and Great Egrets, and Black-crowned Night Herons. The staff at the hotel gave a warm welcome and it was impressive that they let us check in so early in the day, although there was a slight wait for some of the rooms. While we waited an excellent buffet breakfast was enjoyed. A Common Evening Brown perched on the walls of the hotel.

Then it was time for sleep, and most of us managed a few hours, with lunch optional, and delicious for those who attended. We met up at 3.30 for an afternoon excursion. In three- wheelers we motored around the lake to the small Greenwoods Guesthouse, the roof of which overlooks the good forest of the Udawattakelle Sanctuary. It was raining as we arrived and unfortunately there were several showers during our stay today. We managed to see a good selection of common birds however. Things started well with Yellow-fronted Barbet, Brown- headed Barbet, Orange Minivets, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Oriental White-eyes, Spotted Dove, and Hill Mynas all seen well. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrots regularly flew over, calling, which would be how we would most often see them during the tour!

A troop of mischievous Toque Macques moved across the rooftops and came extremely close to us, and Three-striped Palm Squirrels ran along the wires. The beautiful Metallic Caerulean was on the wing and a male Great Eggfly perched. The birds continued with the endemic Layard’s Parakeet; the widespread Oriental Magpie Robin; and a pair of impressive Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 1

Black-rumped Flamebacks. Alexandrine and Rose-ringed Parakeets flew over, and Common Iora and Asian Brown Flycatcher were seen. Whilst all this was going on our hosts provided welcome afternoon tea and coconut hoppers.

Back at the Suisse we enjoyed a very good buffet dinner, and looked forward to a productive and enjoyable tour.

Day 2 Wednesday 20th February Peradineya, Udawattakelle, and Kandy

Today the weather was fine with blue skies. After an excellent breakfast, as usual either western or a good curry selection, we set off in the bus for the short drive to Peradineya Botanic Gardens. We spent the morning walking slowly around the gardens, very busy today. Our route managed to avoid the worst of the crowds however, and we saw a wealth of interesting things. Of course there was a fine selection of here, both native and non-native, and the gardens are particularly attractive and well laid out.

Several orchids were in flower in the Orchid House, but sadly not Sri Lankan . An avenue of Javan Almonds was particularly fine, with incredible irregular buttress roots. Among the many trees were Nutmeg, Mango, African Tulip Tree, Sausage Tree, Bread Fruit and Jack Fruit, but the most impressive were the Pride of Burma, Amherstia nobilis, many of which were in fine bloom. The Cannonball trees were in both flower and fruit, a good example of cauliflory. Thunbergia fragrans had white trumpets and there was some fine Monstera deliciosa. A feature of the gardens are the beautiful avenues of Royal Palms, Cabbage Palms, and Borassus Palms.

The gardens support a rich avifauna, and gave us an introduction to the common birds of Sri Lanka. Yellow-billed Babblers moved around in small groups, White-throated Kingfishers and White-bellied Drongos sallied for , and Magpie Robins were conspicuous. Indian Swiftlets and Asian Palm Swifts wheeled over the lawns, with a few Barn Swallows among them. We had good views of nectaring Loten’s and Purple-rumped Sunbirds, and Common Tailorbirds were active in the dense shrubbery. Koels called noisily, and Brown-headed Barbet and Ceylon Small Barbet looked fine in the sunlight.

Among the few were Psyche, White Four-ring, Metallic Caerulean, Common Crow, and both Emigrants. The scarcity of butterflies was puzzling in the hot weather.

Three-striped Palm Squirrels were much in evidence and there were various troops of mischievous Toque Macaques. Brown-breasted Flycatcher was seen well under the trees, and Black-hooded Oriole called regularly, and was also seen well.

We reached the immense Flying Fox roost, and marvelled at the huge numbers of these impressive bats, quarrelling noisily and never seeming to rest. As usual hundreds were on the wing, despite it being mid-morning. This population has grown every time I visit and the roost now covers a vast area with many trees dripping with bats.

After reaching the huge spreading Javan Fig we strolled along an avenue of contorted Cook’s Pines to a pond where we saw a few Odonata, including Dawn Bluetail, Malabar Sprite, Sri Lankan Orange-faced Sprite, Pink Skimmer, Sombre Skimmer, Blue Pursuer, Eastern Scarlet Darter, Black Velvetwing and Tramea limbata. Also in the pond were Indian Pond Terrapins. Nearby the melastomataceous Medinilla magnifica had stunning large distinctly veined . Here too was a strange tree, Napoleona, placed in its own family, showing cauliflory, the flowers being rather Passiflora like.

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In Kandy a small family run restaurant near the river provided us with a very good rice and curry lunch. There were many dishes of varying hotness, such as banana flower, and jak fruit curries. The beer was very refreshing.

In the afternoon we went to the forest of Udawattakelle, a beautiful place, although often quiet, especially in the afternoon. A bonus was almost no other visitors. A colony of the lycaenid Slate Flash flew in a light gap, beautiful in the sunlight. The bird highlight, and one of my main targets here, was two of the endemic Brown-capped Babbler moving quietly on the forest floor, seen better than ever today. Emerald Dove called.

At 5.45 p.m. Sunil took the group to the , by all accounts a fascinating experience.

Day 3 Thursday 21st February Sorabora and Victoria Radenigala

Breakfast was a delicious selection of curries at 6.30, although of course western food was available too. Leaving at 7.15 we drove east from Kandy, making good progress. After some time we were in more rural surroundings, and some fine verdant scenery. This year we travelled the main route, over the Knuckles range, the road now much improved after years of roadworks. The series of switchbacks down onto the eastern lowlands are now via a wide, brand new much more comfortable road than in the past. Through fine vegetation, among the many roadside plants were the ‘handkerchief’ tree frondosa; Stachytarpheta urticifolia; and verrucosa with purple veined white flowers. Toque Macaques were active on the verges.

Once in the paddies of the eastern lowlands there were many egrets and paddybirds, and White- throated Kingfishers on the wires. In Mahiyangana we had a ginger beer break at the old rest house where we watched nesting Scaly-breasted Munias.

At Sorabora we parked and walked slowly to the reservoir. Butterflies were much in evidence with species such as Crimson Rose, Common Mormon, Common Rose, Dark Wanderer, Chocolate Soldier and Lemon Pansy. One of the first species seen was the lovely Indian Sunbeam, the only one of the tour.

Nearing the reservoir we met the first of several large Water Monitors, and a White-breasted Waterhen. At the reservoir itself was a large raft of Little Cormorants, and Brahminy Kites were in the air. Walking slowly along the bank, lined with impressive fig trees, we had superb views of Malabar Pied Hornbills, an early trip highlight. They were attracted by the fruiting figs and we were able to watch them for as long as we wished. Coppersmiths were also rather common in the figs, and Green Imperial Pigeons and Brown-headed Barbets were seen well. Alpine Swifts flew overhead. Some six Giant Squirrels were seen today, always an impressive .

Crossing a small bridge brought us into excellent habitat, where calling White-browed Bulbuls moved through the scrub. There was a good selection of bugs, beetles, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and other insects seen today. Among the Odonata were Sombre Skimmer and Orange-winged Groundling. Butterflies continued with a selection of danaids, namely Glassy Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Common Tiger, and Common Crow.

Bird activity in the lakeside scrub was rather less than usual but we did see Plain Prinias and Purple Sunbird, and Indian Peafowl was calling.

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We ate our picnics back across the bridge, avoiding the very large school party. I was amazed and touched to see Mr. Silva, who had driven all the way from Kandy to bring me some medicine for my persisitent cough. Incredible attention from an excellent ground agent.

It was time to walk slowly back to the bus. After another brief tea and toilet stop at the Mahiyangana Rest House, we took the road to the south through the reserve of Victoria Radenigala to complete a large circuitous route. The paddies were full of the common birds. Ocimum sanctum and Indian Laburnum bloomed on the roadsides and Indian Pitta was calling. The driver took up birdwatching and I had my work cut out to stop him from stopping the bus for every one of the many common birds along the way, things we would see many of during the trip, and much better to see when we were on foot. No fewer than three Ruddy Mongosses were seen on the drive.

An impromptu bridge stop in a very small village proved excellent for birds. In a short time we recorded Small Minivet, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Common Iora, White-browed Fantail, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Oriental White-eye, Black-hooded Oriole, and Dark-fronted and Tawny-bellied Babblers active in the scrub below us. There was also a Stripe-necked Mongoose here, rather surprising in such disturbed habitat although we were close to good forest.

We arrived back in Kandy exactly as intended at 7, with time for catching up on notes before another delicious dinner.

Day 4 Friday 22nd February Upper Water Catchment, Udawattakelle, and Temple Loop

A varied day began at 7.00 as we went up to the Upper Water Catchment above Kandy, where a wide track leads up through fine forest. Brown-breasted Flycatchers was seen, and we had a brief view of White-rumped Shamas. Among a variety of trees the Jakfruit relative Artocarpus nobilis was much in evidence with its huge spiky fruits. Several of these had been partly eaten, perhaps by Golden Palm Civets, and I made note of their location for our return after dark. Other trees here included Ficus exasperata and Premna tomentosa. The St.John’s-wort relative Clusea major, also a tree, grew alongside the track. Layard’s Parakeet was seen reasonably well. Two Muntjacs moved on the forest floor and silent Brown-capped Babblers were seen at a second site.

We returned to the hotel for breakfast and at 9.50 took the bus through town up to the forest reserve of Udawattakelle. Mr Silva was there to meet us, the weather was still fine, and we had a very enjoyable slow walk through the forest. Things were very quiet initially with little other than the forest to enjoy. Indian Pond Terrapins frequented the pond. Both Thunbergia erecta and Thunbergia grandiflora were in flower. Soldiers were positioned regularly along the trails here today, a security measure as the president was in town. Sadly the small reserve museum had been sanitised since my last visit and all specinems in jars, labelled snail shells, fruits etc. etc. had all been removed. Glad-eye Bushbrown was a pleasing find. A pair of Greater Flamebacks were seen, a probable endemic depending on taxonomic treatment.

Nearby we had good views of Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth, and the large white Buddha on the hilltop overlooking the town. Two male Black Princes, always a special butterfly, were seen settling on the bare track. A male Wild Boar was spotted on the forest floor, and then a small family group with stripey young, always a special find in the forest, much easier to see in the dry lowlands.

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We returned to town and visited Queens Hotel where the ever attentive Mr.Silva had arranged for tea to be served to us. The bookshop was raided for any natural history books, and around the corner from the hotel we visited another bookshop where we found a few useful publications. We returned to the hotel for lunch, a swim, a siesta or any combination of the three.

In the afternoon we visited three small temples in the countryside near Kandy, what we call the Temple Loop. Leaving the hotel at 2.30, the first temple visited was Gadaladeniya, fourteenth century, with some fine carved elephants around the central Dagoba, although there was extensive restoration work going on here this year. There are carved Buddhas as well as Hindu gods. Some visited the temple with Sunil, whilst the others came with me along the track outside where we had good views of a beautiful green Forest , and the butterflies Forget-me-not, and Long-tailed Blue.

The second, larger, temple of Lanka Tilake was perched atop a hill and commanded fine views over the paddies and vegetation, and again had both Buddhist and Hindu elements. It was rather hot here today limiting the bird activity.

The third of the temples, Embekke Divale, boasted some fine carved wooden pillars, also dating from the fourteenth century. The carvings depict a range of subjects such as a bullock-eating elephant (!), Sinhalese warriors and dancers, and a Portuguese soldier on horseback. Most of us walked to the paddies here where we saw White-rumped Munias, and many Ceylon Swallows in the air. A small group of the beautiful and rather rare damselfly Libellago finalis, the Ultima Gem, perched on a twig, a highlight. Greater Coucal was seen well, and Brown Mongoose was seen in the paddies, even in the telescope.

Returning to Kandy, after a few minutes back at the hotel, we headed back to the Upper Water Catchment where I led a short night walk. Common Indian Toad started things off, followed by Sri Lanka Rock Frog, Common Wood Frog and Montane Hour-glass Tree Frog. Setting out along the track it wasn’t long before eye-shine soon led me to the endemic Golden Palm Civet. We had fine prolonged views of this scarce mammal, our main target here this evening. Common Palm Civet was also seen, a bonus. Several bats were on the wing and fireflies were much in evidence.

Day 5 Saturday 23rd February Journey to

It was time to leave the Suisse and we made the short drive around the lake to Peradineya Junction station, with its many features of a bygone era. As we waited for the train Magpie Robin sang and Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot flew over. The group were treated to a tour of the traditional signal box, led across the rails to visit it. Mr. Silva had procured us seats in the first class observation car, situated at the back of the train and allowing wide vistas, and the group even had the ‘front row’ seats. The journey was comfortable although very crowded today as this was the first day of a three day holiday, Monday being Poya Day.

We enjoyed the fine changing scenery as the train climbed slowly but ever higher towards Nuwara Eliya, stopping every now and then at small well kept stations. Bamboo Orchids became common along the trackside, and there were some very tall Lobelia nicotianifolia in bloom. The pink Ipomoea cairica was very common. Once through pine plantations we were in extensive tea estates, each with a distinctive white tea factory at its heart. There were many non- native plants here such as Grevillea robusta, eucalypts, and bottle-brush. There were also some impressive waterfalls en route.

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We left the train at , the closest station to Nuwara Eliya, and were whisked into town by a mini van. Osbeckia cupularis as well as elder, fuchsias, and bracken were seen on the roadsides, and the flowering Plectranthus grandis was impressive. Nuwara Eliya always comes as a great contrast to Kandy, being a hill station with British influenced architecture, and many quirky hints at its colonial past.

Our home here was The Hill Club, a colonial institution complete with evening dress code. We filled in our arrival forms in the library and were soon settling into the rooms.

We met again at 3.30p.m. for the short walk into town to visit Victoria Park. Over the years this place has turned up some fine birds, and we saw some good things here this afternoon. After some perseverance we had fine views of the endemic Sri Lanka White-eye and Yellow-eared Bulbuls, and a fine male Indian Blue Robin was a highlight. Two Forest Wagtails were seen well. The calls of Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler were often heard, and a couple were seen well. The damselfly Mountain Reedling, Indolestes gracilis, was seen through the telescope. We walked, or took three wheelers, back to the hotel at dusk, arriving well before the seven o’clock curfew when men were required to wear a jacket and tie to be seen in the public areas of the Hill Club.

In the evening the group made a commendable effort to follow the dress code. We enjoyed dinner served by the white suited waiters. The curries were particularly good, always prepared specially for us, as the usual fare here is western.

Day 6 Sunday 24th February Horton Plains

We set off at 5.30 in the dark in a mini-van up towards the Horton Plains. The night was starlit and dawn revealed cloudless blue skies. The weather can be very changeable on the Horton Plains but today we were blessed with continuous sunshine. Having passed through several small settlements, and dairy farms, and having crossed the railway a few times, we started the climb up a forested road via a series of sharp turns. The road had many Tree Ferns, Cyathea gigantea, and various species of Osbeckia, with showy pink flowers. We saw three male Sri Lanka Junglefowl on the roadsides looking fine in the morning light and then had very close views of two Sri Lanka Woodpigeons feeding on the roadside. A short stop was prompted by another endemic, Sri Lanka Dull Blue Flycatcher.

At the gate and ticket booth were some smart toilets, complete with a view! Once inside the park we stopped at a suitable place overlooking the grasslands to eat our box breakfast. Here was a mixed flock with Yellow-eared Bulbuls and Sri Lanka White-eyes, which moved restlessly among the moss covered trees. The Rhododendron arboreum was in fine flower. Paddyfield Pipits were much in evidence and Zitting Cisticolas perfromed display flights.

Having reached the car park we sorted ourselves out and loaded up with our box lunches before setting out on our circuitous walk around Horton Plains, about six miles in total. It was remarkably busy up here today because of the holiday weekend. We still managed to see much of interest however.

This is the real day of the tour, with a fascinating flora on the plains, and many very attractive species. The rolling grasslands are interspersed with patches of elfin forest, with various species of Syzygium; Calophyllum walkeri with its flush of new red leaves; and Litsea species being among the dominants. We found only one of the two usual species of sundew, Drosera baumannii, today, but that was a pleasing find. The campanula Wahlenbergia marginata flowered beside the path. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, and the impressive large yellow Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 6 flowered Hypericum mysurense were among the shrubs. Probably at least three species of Osbeckia were here – Osbeckia parvifolia, Osbeckia rubicunda and Osbeckia cupularis. The genus Strobilanthes was represented by Strobilanthes calycina, Strobilanthes pulcherrima and Strobilanthes viscosa, and the rarely flowering Strobilanthes sexennis was in . A very pleasing find, also seen here last year, was Christisonia lawii, a very attractive orobanche parasitic on the Strobilanthes. The very common blue flowered iris was Aristea ecklonii and is naturalised here. The delicate flowered Impatiens leptopoda was a good find, and Euphorbia rothiana was seen. In the water bloomed Eriocaulon ceylanicum and Aponogeton jacobsenii.

Hill Swallows flew low over the grasslands. Pied Bushchats were common and confiding, and a few Paddyfield Pipits were seen very closely, whilst Kestrel hovered. Butterflies were few in number up here, however we did see several of the endemic Ceylon Hedge Blue, and a few Ceylon Tigers, a speciality of the area. Small-eared Shrub Frog was a pleasing find. Sambar grazed on the grasslands. Ceylon Bush Warbler was seen briefly in an elfin forest patch where some walked down for a view of Baker’s Falls.

As is so often the case when we arrived at World’s End the dramatic views were completely obscured by dense low cloud, but after only a few minutes this cleared a little to give excellent views, really very special. We also had fine views of a soaring Black Eagle.

A little further on, lunch was eaten at Little World’s End where a break in the clouds again revealed the fine views below. The walk from here produced much of the white flowered gentian Exacum walkeri in bloom. The diminutive Viola pilosa was very attractive and Viola betonicifolia was added to today. Giant Squirrels was seen very well. A troop of the endemic and characterful Bear Monkey was watched a short way across the valley.

We arrived back late afternoon after a very productive day on the Horton Plains. In the Hill Club it was time to dress for dinner.

Day 7 Monday 25th February Hakgala and Tea estate

This morning we visited Hakgala Botanic Garden near Nuwara Eliya, another fine garden, this one built on a hillside and merging into native forest at the higher reaches. We strolled around the labyrinthine paths, admiring the plants, and finding butterflies, birds, dragonflies, and as we went. Red Helen, Glassy Tiger, Great Eggfly, Common Sailor, and Ceylon Treebrown were among the butterflies today in the continued fine weather.

A beautiful male Kashmir Flycatcher put in an all too brief appearance.

We soon encountered a very close Bear Monkey troop, and had great views of this endemic primate, especially in the trees and tree ferns just above our heads. The many ponds in the gardens provide excellent habitat for a range of amphibians, but almost beyond belief we saw not a single one today, although some were calling. I was very pleased to find a beautiful lichenose Pygmy , a fine animal well camouflaged on a tree trunk.

Among the Odonata also around the ponds were Triangle Skimmer, Red-veined Darter, and Mountain Reedling. Featured bird was the endemic Dusky Blue Flycatcher of which we saw several, all of them tame and seen superbly. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Black Bulbuls, and Sri Lanka White-eye were all here too. Ferns and clubmosses carpeted the banks, and we admired bulbs such as the white Eucharis amazonica and Crinum kirkii.

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Lunch was enjoyed back at the Hill Club.

In the afternoon Sunil looked after the group on a visit to one of the many local tea plantations and factories so characteristic of the highlands. There they learnt something of the tea growing process and were of course able to buy some of the final product!

We enjoyed our last meal at the Hill Club.

Day 8 Tuesday 26th February Journey to Yala

Today we left the Hill Club, still under blue skies, at 8 am. A winding two hour journey through many small villages, the occasional town, and extensive tea plantations, took us to Ella where we stopped at the finely situated Rest House for a cup of tea, and cake. There were fine views down to the southern lowlands, our destination. Yellow-fronted Barbet and Ceylon Small Barbet were seen well, and Oriental Honey Buzzard was in the air, the first of several today.

The road took us slowly down to the plains, via the impressive Ella Falls. There a short stop had the persuasive hawkers proffering colourful rocks, trying hard to give them away, but some of the group had been pleased to purchase some back at the rest house. Oriental Greenwing was superb in the sunlight, flying around the rocks in the river. Asian Skimmer and Indigo Dropwing were here too. Having reached the lowlands the paddies were lush with tall rice at this time of year and we soon reached the western boundary of the extensive Yala National Park. The regularly spaced military posts along this road that had previously precluded any stops were now abandoned, post war. A wetland stop yielded Little Grebes, Purple Heron, and Pheasant- tailed Jacana, and Black-winged Kite hovered.

An Elephant near the road was a highlight. This area was alive with open country butterflies, notably vast numbers of migrating Mottled Emigrants. Also here were Lemon Emigrant, Common Crow, Crimson Rose, Lemon Pansy, and various lycaenids such as Common Pierrot.

A post prandial stroll yielded several more butterflies, the highlight of which was a Monkey Puzzle. Black-hooded Oriole and Green Bee-eaters were among the birds, and a Velvet-fronted Nuthatch was seen. Langurs were active in the trees, and Land Monitors scuttled noisily through the vegetation. Leucas zeylanica was among the flowers. A fine Crimson Dropwing perched on a twig.

Among the extensive Calotropis gigantea were Common and Plain Tigers.

Before long we had reached the town of Tissamaharama, and our recently refurbished hotel on the banks of the eponymous tank where an island supports a large gathering of nesting and roosting egrets, cormorants, ibis, and pelicans. As last year I was very impressed with the standards at the completely refurbished hotel, the staff, rooms, and especially the food, all excellent.

There was time for a late afternoon vigil in the fine light on the western sides of the tank with many large Rain Trees standing in the water. Here was another huge Flying Fox roost, and many Darters in the trees. There were a number of Spot-billed Pelicans, several Purple Herons, and Grey Herons too. Purple Gallinules and White-breasted Waterhens frequented the water hyacinths, and Yellow Bittern put in a brief appearance. Black-headed Ibis, Brown-headed Barbet and nesting Scaly-breasted Munia were all here, with the attractive Black-headed Munia seen too.

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The conspicuous nests of Baya Weavers were here, with a few of the birds themselves. Ashy Wood-swallows perched on the wires. The damselfly Yellow Waxtail and Frog frequented the tank. Back at the hotel the crepuscular dragonfly Dingy Duskflyer flew around the small ponds near reception.

Dinner in the hotel was an extensive buffet, the curries among the best I have ever tasted.

Days 9 to 11 Wednesday 27th February to Friday 1st March Yala and Bundala National Parks

Three full days in the area allowed us plenty of time to explore the two superb national parks of Yala and Bundala. We enjoyed two morning trips (of about six hours each) in Yala; and a morning and an afternoon trip to Bundala; and spent time at some of the fine tanks in the area.

Each morning the jeep was outside the hotel in the dark at 5.30 a.m., so we could get to the Yala entrance gate at opening time. Generally we spent the next six hours driving many of the tracks in the park, exploring the scrub, grasslands, and lagoons, stopping whenever we saw something of interest, and that was often.

It’s always difficult to give an account of these days, as so much is seen. Some 100 bird species were seen daily, many in great numbers. Of course the usual cormorants, pelicans, darters, spoonbills, egrets and herons were numerous. Waders were a feature, including Marsh Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Black-tailed Godwit, Great Thick-knee, and several Yellow-wattled Lapwings around the water holes. Painted Storks were much in evidence, with their characteristic feeding method, and there were also a few Openbills; several Spoonbills; and many Black-headed Ibis. Lesser Whistling Ducks were rather common, looking fine in the sunlight, and there were a few Garganey.

We had regular fine views of Peacocks, common here, with some males displaying. Chestnut- headed, Blue-tailed and Green Bee-eaters were all conspicuous, looking fine in the sunlight, often right beside the vehicle, and Hoopoe was seen well in Bundala. Malabar Pied Hornbills were as always impressive, and Indian Pitta was often heard, with one seen well in a thicket in Yala.

Around the water-holes were some impressive Mugger Crocodiles, and large Land Monitors were a feature. A highlight was a stately Black-necked Stork, feeding in a large lagoon, a very rare species here. Brahminy Kites, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and Crested Hawk Eagle were among the raptors in the area.

It is the mammals here that are really special, and the vehicles often allow a remarkably close approach, however the number of vehicles in Yala now is becoming a problem. Elephants were of course a feature and we had some close encounters, although fewer than usual. Many Chital were seen, often groups sheltering under trees. Troops of Langurs were regularly encountered, often mixed with Macaques. Several Ruddy Mongooses were seen, foraging around the tracksides tails upcurved, and oblivious to the vehicle. Wild Boar were much in evidence, and a few Black-naped Hares were seen. Clear tracks of Leopard were noted in the sand, but sadly none were seen this year.

We had good views of Orange-breasted Green Pigeons in the tree tops, they were common here this year. Among the many other birds at Yala were Paradise Flycatcher, Barred Button-quail, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Oriental Skylarks, and Rosy Starlings. A pair of Black-headed Cuckoo- shrike were seen briefly.

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In Yala breakfast were eaten in one of the few places that one is permitted to stop and get out of the jeep. The first day was on the beach, busy, and on the second visit, breakfast was taken in the fine riverine forest at Elephant Rock where we were alone. Here Ceylon drifted through the more lush vegetation and Skipper Frogs inhabited the rock pools.

Cactus like Euphorbia antiquorum trees were a feature of the vegetation, and the mimosa with parti-coloured pink and yellow tassel flowers was Dichrostachys cinerea. The blue butterfly pea Clitoria ternatea climbed over the scrub, and there were many Cassia bushes, notably Cassia auriculata with its large flowers.

On the wing were Lime Butterfly, Crimson Rose, Dark Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Common Leopard, Lemon Pansy, Small Salmon Arab, Small Grass Yellow, Yellow Orange-tip, White Orange-tip, Common Jezebel, both Emigrants, and Tawny Coster. The Pierids listed were numerous, with many mud puddling.

The saltpans at Bundala had very large numbers of waders this year, among them Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Turnstone, Little Stint, Temmick’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff and Black-winged Stilt. Several Small Pratincoles were a highlight and Great Thick-knee was seen very closely. There was a lone Eurasian Curlew. We had fine views of these from the jeep as we drove along the bunds. I was very pleased to relocated Red-necked Phalarope in exactly the same spot I’ve seen the species on many occasions in the past. A surprise this year was the fact there were eight birds here.

Very few Brown-haeded Gulls were seen, but terns are always a feature here, with Gull-billed, Caspian, Great Crested, Sandwich, Roseate, Whiskered, and White-winged. Female Watercock and Striated Heron were here, and two Glossy Ibis were the only ones of the tour. Other birds noted in Bundala included Pied Cuckoo, Crested Tree-swift, Hoopoe, and Indian Reed Warbler, and the only Yellow-crowned Woodpecker of the tour.

After long breaks back at the comfortable hotel in the middle of the day, with lunch optional, we drove out again in the afternoons.

Mudflats along the Yala entrance road supported many waders, the usual mixture of plovers, and sandpipers etc, notable among them Pacific Golden Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, and Ruff, Here were many Ashy-crowned Sparrow-larks, and a few Paddyfield Pipits. Pied Kingfishers hovered over the water. We had good views of Green Imperial Pigeons and two Indian Silverbills were seen closely, rather a scarce species here.

A series of tanks was visited one afternoon. Stork-billed Kingfisher was seen well and Indian Reed Warbler skulked in the reeds. In a leafy garden we had superb views of Indian Scops Owl. Back at the tanks the rain trees held a pair of Black-backed Woodpeckers and the only Ceylon Wood-shrike of the tour was seen.

An afternoon return to Bundala allowed us to further appreciate a fine park, much less visited than Yala, and we added several species to the bird list. A highlight was a Star Tortoise seen very close to the vehicle, a beautiful animal.

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Day 12 Saturday 2nd March Journey to Koggala

It was time to leave Yala after an excellent buffet breakfast and head west along the coast. Initially travelling through good habitat, a short stop by the Hambantota wetlands yielded a selection of common waders. Remarkably the only Indian Roller was seen this morning, a species usually much in evidence in the area.

A stop at the protected wetlands of Kalametiya produced several Small Salmon Arabs flying around the bushes. The best views of Blue-faced Malkohas of the tour were here. Blue Percher, Eastern Scarlet Darter, Black Velvetwing, and Variable Glider represented the dragonflies.

A stop was made at the Tangalle Rest House where photos of the tsunami damage were very moving. Here we enjoyed a delicious rice and curry lunch, or western choice, in the characterful old building by the harbour.

The journey was fascinating as there was always something of interest going on in the several towns and many villages that we passed through. In Weligama were stilt fishermen perched stop their poles, and here too we saw the small island of Taprobane with its eponymous exclusive hotel, available for private hire

We arrived at the hotel late afternoon and settled in to the lovely colonial rooms, before meeting in the bar in the evening to catch up with checklists. Something of a culture shock after where we’d been, we were now in the land of the surfer.

Day 13 Sunday 3rd March Whale Watching and Koggala paddies

A fine bonus to the tour now is the opportunity to take a whale watching trip from the south coast at Mirissa, about half an hour’s drive east of our hotel. We left the hotel early morning and arrived at the harbour to find many boats and tourists. The boat we were on was one of the better ones, with about fifteen people on board and a good crew. White-bellied Sea-eagle flew along the coast.

The seas were calm with just a slight swell. We motored out to the most productive area and after about an hour encountered the first Common Bottlenose Dolphins. A small group was bow-riding and performing various acrobatics out of the water. We had regular fine views. Before long things got very exciting when the first Blue Whale was spotted. We spent the rest of the time chasing around the seas and were rewarded with some fine views of the world’s largest mammal. We had several classic views of this superb animal.

A bonus was a few Bridled Terns, with one even landing on the boat canopy and travelling with us for some time.

Common Jezebel and Crimson Rose were flying far out at sea.

In the afternoon, in tuc-tucs, we explored several paddie sites just inland of Koggala.

Butterflies were not numerous but we saw several tigers, Common Crows, and the occasional pierid. There were Black Velvet-wings, Sombre Skimmer, and several other dragonflies. Zitting Cisticola performed display flights over the paddies.

Active in the trees was a small troop of Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys. Asian Paradise Flycatcher was seen well. Peacock was often heard and we also saw several in the area. Ceylon Green

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Pigeons were seen well, a new endemic bird for us and the only ones seen on the tour. Blue- winged Leafbird and a male Shikra were seen at one site.

The white flowered Suicide Tree, with spherical pendulous fruits, was common here, a member of the Apocynaceae. Peacock Pansy was on the wing.

Day 14 Monday 4th March Unawatuna and Galle

This morning there was a chance to snorkel from the coast west of the hotel. The group travelled out to the reef in a small boat and spent an interesting hour or so seeing some beautiful fish. Sadly the opaque water, and rather poor weather, meant far from ideal conditions. Once back and fully dressed again we went for a short walk along the attractive leafy lanes that led behind the touristy beach. White Four-ring was common on the short turf and the only Lime Blue of the tour was seen. Greater Coucal was seen well. This was a very pleasant walk but it was sadly curtailed by heavy rain which soon became persistent.

We managed to get back to the beach in a lull in the rain, but getting tuc-tucs back to the coach was rather a wet affair.

Next we drove into Galle and enjoyed a very good lunch in a hotel inside the walls of the fort. After lunch I had intended a tour of the UNESCO site of the old fortified part of Galle, but the continuous heavy rain made this difficult. Instead there were opportunities for various practicalities in the new town such as changing money, bookshops, etc. etc.

Back at the hotel there was a break before meeting to catch up with the checklists.

Day 15 Tuesday 5th March Journey to Sinharaja

Out at sea the rocks supported both Lesser Crested and Great Crested Terns.

Departure was slightly delayed whilst the driver got a puncture repaired. Once under way the journey was straightforward, initially along the remarkable still little used motorway that now connects Galle and Colombo. Leaving this the roads became more verdant as we travelled through many small villages on our way to Sinharaja and our fine hotel, the Boulder Garden.

Having settled in to the rooms situated among the eponymous boulders on a rocky hillside, we ate our packed lunches.

Things started well on our short afternoon walk as I spotted the only Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker of the tour. A perched Crested Serpent Eagle was watched catching some small prey in the paddies. Emerald Dove was seen well.

The skipper Bush Hopper was on the wing and the satyrid Orsotriaena medus. Water channels supported the demoiselle Vestalis apicalis. A highlight was the endemic Black-crested Bulbul, seen very well.

Late afternoon around the upper pools, under the huge boulder of the dining area, produced a pair of Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers and a Large-billed Leaf Warbler put in a brief appearance.

Dinner was eaten in the fine surroundings of the outdoor dining room beneath a huge boulder. The pools supported Kirtisinghe’s Frog, Golden Frog, and the lovely Common Hour-glass Tree- frog.

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Day 16 Wednesday 6th March Sinharaja

We left the Boulder Garden at 6 am, just as it was getting light, in a rattly jeep for the drive to Sinharaja. It was raining but this soon stopped and we enjoyed fine weather for the whole day which proved to be supremely productive, especially for endemic birds. After about forty minutes we reached the reserve boundaries and the impressive new visitor centre and ticket office at the forest edge. Here I met the forest guide, obligatory for a visit here and excellent as usual. Back in the jeep we bumped our way up the rough road to Mr. Martin’s bungalow.

Having arrived we settled onto the balcony, ate our box breakfast, and ordered tea and coffee. Bird activity was rather quiet initially this morning, with only widespread species such as Orange Minivet, noisy Black Bulbuls, and Brown-breasted Flycatcher seen initially. This would soon change however.

Once organised, leech socks on, we set off for the short walk to the reserve entrance. Endemic birds started almost immediately with White-cheeked Starling and Sri Lanka Mynas both seen superbly well perched in leafless trees allowing fine prolonged views. Yellow-crowned Barbet called continuously and was here too. The attractive endemic Legge’s Flowerpecker perched atop a slender tree. A fine large snail was on a fence post, surely endemic as some 95% of the 265 Sri Lankan species are. The red gesneriaceous herb on the rocks here was the naturalised Episcia reptans from South America.

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrots regularly flew over. Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys were heard from time to time, and were seen briefly.

The forest here is comprised mainly of Dipterocarps, and as many as 150 species are estimated to be here. Various species of Shorea and Dipterocarpus were seen today. The tree fern Cyathea walkerae was here and there were large tufts of the ferns Blechnum orientale and Dichranopteris linearis, as well as clubmosses. Bamboo Orchids were numerous along the track and we saw many fine examples of the pitcher plant Nepenthes distillatoria, the only Sri Lankan species. It grew on banks as well as climbing over shrubs, and even hung from trees. Clidemia hirta was a white flowered Melastomacean herb. The forest near the research station had the trees Callophyllum bracteatum and Callophyllum thwaitesii as well as Shorea trapezifolia with huge buttress roots.

It was the birds that stole the show this morning. We encountered several fine mixed bird flocks as we walked, of varying size and variety. Orange-billed Babblers often formed the core, whilst Dark-fronted Babblers skulked lower in the undergrowth. Sri Lankan Blue Magpies called from across an open valley and were finally seen very well. Chestnut-backed Owlet was seen superbly well, and Black-naped Monarch was new to us. Sri Lanka Woodpigeons remained in cover. Danu knew the location of a roosting pair of Sri Lankan Frogmouths, and whilst he showed them to the group, as close as you like, I located the first stunning Red-faced Malkoha. A very large canopy flock also had both rufous and white phases of Paradise Flycatcher, and the regional endemic Malabar Trogon. Ceylon Crested Drongo was here too. A little later we met a flock of Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes.

The sun brought out the swallowtails. Ceylon Birdwings sailed over the trees, and there were a few Blue Mormons and Red Helens. A highlight today was a Five-bar Swordtail puddling on the track. A scarce species here, called the ‘twelve o’clock fly’ by entomologists in the past as it characteristically appears in the middle of the day. A feature here is the lazy flight of the beautiful delicate Tree Nymphs, of which there were several. The Clipper, Great Eggfly, Glad- eye Bushbrown, Common Caerulean and the wonderfully named Restricted Demon, were

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A few Kangaroo were seen and a Forest Calotes. A bizarre feature of the day was a male Sri Lanka Junglefowl that adopted us and more or less followed us up and down the trail, pecking at the seeds of a favoured species of grass on the tracksides. It was remarkably tame.

Lunch was eaten back at Martin’s, with a selection of excellent curries cooked by the ladies of the house. There were also sandwiches sent from the Boulder Garden. Lunch was followed by a siesta until 3 pm, when we headed again into the forest.

Having seen so much in the morning of course things were a little slower in the afternoon but we continued to see new species. Indeed every walk along this superb track yields new things, an indication of the high biodiversity here. We were quickly ‘ticking off’ all the endemic and near endemic birds. Danu found us skulking Ceylon Scaly Thrush and then Spot-winged Thrush, the latter unusually elusive this year. Intensive searching for the fairly recently discovered Serendip Scops Owl was unfortunately unsuccessful today.

As we drove out a male Indian Blue Robin was bathing in a roadside puddle.

Another delicious meal at the Boulder Garden was very welcome after a long and productive day. The manager thought our thirteen hour stay away from the hotel in the forest was a record for guests there!

Some of us were distracted between courses by the many small ponds and wet mossy boulders, and found several frogs including the impressive large tree frog Polypedates cruciger.

Day 17 Thursday 7th March Sinharaja and Journey to Negombo

Again we left at dawn, returning to Sinharaja, the weather today much warmer with cloudless blue skies.

Having met Danu at the HQ, and had a quick look at the publications on offer, we headed along a track into tea and cinnamon plantations in search of one of the few endemic birds we had not yet seen. Whilst we ate the breakfast near the jeep Danu went in search of Green-billed Coucal, soon hearing them down in the valley near a small homestead. Most of us ventured down into the tea plantation and had brief views of this special bird. The driver meanwhile had located the species near the jeep and back there were had fine prolonged close views of at least three birds.

As we bumped up to Martin’s Brown-backed Needletails were in the air along with a mixture of other swifts. Crested Hawk-Eagle perched in a tree. A vigil for Sri Lanka Spurfowl again had closely calling birds but this very elusive species remained in cover.

Having reached the entrance gate we again set out along the fine forested trail. Mixed bird flocks were less a feature today and bird activity was much less than the previous day. Red- faced Malkohas were seen superbly however, Orange-billed Babblers were again much in evidence and we again saw Ashy-headed Laughingthrushes. Ceylon Scimitar Babblers called regularly and were seen well. Yellow-browed Bulbul was here and Sri Lanka Blue Magpies were seen incredibly closely. A Besra however proved difficult to get a look at.

The sunlight brought out a good number of butterflies, among them Commander, The Clipper, The Cruiser, Metallic Caerulean, and the characterful Plum Judy. A small patch of mud again attracted Five-bar Swordtail, and Common Bluebottle. Chestnut-streaked and Common Sailers Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 14 were both here. Three-spot Grass Yellow and Angled Pierrot added to the variety. A highlight today was several of the endemic subspecies of Aberrant Bushblue. A lone Great Crow was seen towards the end of the walk.

Another highlight was the stunning butterfly Blue Oakleaf flying along the stream. As I stood on the wooden bridge here, the rubber eyepiece from my binoculars dropped frustratingly into the deepest part of the stream below, as I was watching the Oriental Greenwings along the stream. Danu was soon in bare feet and in the water, and fishing for it with a long stick.

Flame-striped Squirrel was seen today. A beautiful purplish snail with a flattened yellow shell was a species of Satiella. We also saw a few of the forest damselfly Elattoneura centralis.

Not having seen any snakes here we made up for this on the return walk. Common Bronzeback was seen, and possibly Stripe-tailed Bronzeback was here too. A little later from the jeep we saw a Rat Snake.

After a long morning in the forest we said farewell to Sinharaja and the jeep drove us back to the Boulder Garden. With time to change and re-pack, taking a box lunch from the Boulder Garden we said farewell and drove towards the airport near where we were to spend our last night. We took a convoluted route along many small country roads and through small villages, which initially avoided the worst of the traffic, but that became heavy the closer we got to the capital conurbation. A tea stop was made at a convenient rest house en route.

Arriving at the heavily touristed coastal strip near the airport was quite a culture shock after where we’d been. There was even a Tesco Express! Dinner was a western buffet for those who wished, and the specially ordered rice and curry from the kitchen was surprisingly good.

Day 18 Friday 8th March Departure

It was a short drive to the airport, and there we all said our farewells, Mr Silva of course having come to say goodbye too. I stayed on for the rest of the day, departing in the early hours on a different flight.

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Sri Lanka Systematic Lists 2013

Itinerary:-

Tuesday 19th February. Arrival. Colombo to Kandy. Greenwoods. Wednesday 20th February. Peradineya Botanic Garden. Udawattakelle. Kandy. Thursday 21st February. Sorabora, Victoria Radenigala Sanctuary. Friday 22nd February. Upper Water Catchment. Udawattakelle. Temple Loop. Upper Water Catchment. Saturday 23rd February. Train to Nuwara Eliya. Victoria Park. Sunday 24th February. Horton Plains. Monday 25th February. Hakgala Botanic Garden. Tea Plantation. Tuesday 26th February. Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama via Ella. Wednesday 27th February. Yala National Park. Thursday 28th February. Bundala, Tissa area tanks. Friday 1st March. Yala and Bundala. Saturday 2nd March. Tissamaharama to Koggala via Kalemetiya and Tangalle. Sunday 3rd March. Whale Watching. Koggala area. Monday 4th March. Unawatuna. Galle. Tuesday 5th March. Koggala to Boulder Garden. Wednesday 6th March. Sinharaja. Thursday 7th March. Sinharaja. Journey to Negombo. Friday 8th March. Departure.

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Systematic List Number 1 Mammals

The nomenclature and taxonomic order from this list is taken from ‘The Book of Indian ’ (1971) by S. H. Prater and published by Oxford University Press. Additional material comes from the ‘Manual of the Mammals of Sri Lanka’ (1980) by W. W. A. Phillips. Records from previous years are included in square brackets.

Toque Macaque Macaca sinica aurifrons Common and widespread, especially in the Kandy area. Common Langur Semnopithecus priam Common in Yala and Bundala area, also at Victoria Radenigala. Purple-faced Leaf Monkey Tachypithecus vetulus Subspecies monticola was seen well on Horton Plains, and at Hakgala. The nominate subspecies was noted in the Koggala area and at Sinharaja. Leopard Panthera pardus 2012:- 1 at Yala. Much sign there, and some fine prints on the Horton Plains. 2013:- only prints at Yala. [Rusty Spotted Cat Felis rubiginosa 2 just after dark along the Yala entrance road was a great find in 2007. 1 along the Yala entrance road 2012 was a highlight.] [Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica A road casualty near Bundala, both in 2007 and 2009.] Golden Palm-Cat Paradoxurus zeylonensis Seen very well on a night-walk in the Upper Water Catchment, feeding on Artocarpus fruits. Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Also seen on the night walk in the Upper Water Catchment. [Common Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi Scattered records in previous years.] Ruddy Mongoose Herpestes smithii Victoria Radenigala, Yala, and Sinharaja. Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus Embekke Devale and Horton Plains. Stripe-necked Mongoose Herpestes vitricollis 1 in Victoria Radenigala. Golden Jackal Canis aureus lanka 2 only, at Yala and Bundala. [Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus 1 seen closely in Yala National Park 2012.] [Grey Musk Shrew Suncus murinus 2004 one dead at Hakgala, 2005 and 2007, Boulder Garden.] [Shrew sp. 2005 one dead on Horton Plains.] Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus Some huge colonies seen, e.g. around and especially in Peradineya Gardens. Bat spp. Several different species present but not identified. Various frugivorous and insectivorous species seen. Three-striped Palm Funambulus palmarum Widespread and common. Squirrel Flame-striped Squirrel Funambulus layardi A few at Sinharaja. Dusky-striped Squirrel Funambulus sublineatus Horton Plains. Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura The ‘Highland Grizzled’ nominate subspecies was seen on Horton Plains. The lowland ‘Common Ceylon’ grey subspecies dandolena was seen at Sorabora. The ‘Black and Yellow’ subspecies melanochra was seen at Sinharaja. [Mouse sp. 2005 Sinharaja.]

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[Black Rat Rattus rattus In the ‘Pitta corner’ in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya 2005.] [Indian Crested Porcupine Hystrix indica A quill at Yala.] Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis A few at Yala and Bundala. Droppings on Horton Plains. Sambar Cervus unicolor 2 on Horton Plains. Chital Axis axis Several at Yala. Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak Upper Water Catchment and Udawattkelle, Kandy. [Chevrotain Tragulus meminna Droppings at Hakgala.] Wild Boar Sus scrofa cristatus Much in evidence at Yala. Rooting evidence elsewhere. A male, and a family group at Udawattakelle, including striped young was quite a find in the forest. Indian Elephant Elephas maximus A few at Yala and Bundala, fewer sightings than usual. [Wild Buffalo Bubalus bubalis Several small groups at Uda Walawe, 2007.] Blue Whale One or more individuals seen very well on boat trip from Mirissa. Common Bottlenose Tursiops truncatus Pods close to the whale watching boat. Dolphin

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Systematic List Number 2 Birds

The nomenclature is taken from ‘Birds of South , The Ripley Guide’ by Pamela C.Rasmussen and John C.Anderton, Lynx Edicions 2005. This work introduced several significant taxonomic changes from previous standard works of the region, namely ‘A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka’ by Harrison and Worfolk, Oxford University Press 1999 and ‘Birds of the Indian Subcontinent’ by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp (Helm 1998).

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A few on tanks in Tissa area Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Widespread and locally numerous. On the lake at Kandy, at Tissamaharama, Yala and Bundala Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Widespread and locally abundant e.g. Yala and Bundala Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Widespread and locally numerous, e.g. Kandy area, Yala, and Bundala [Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Tissa tank 2012] Darter Anhinga melanogaster Reasonably common at Yala and Bundala Little Egret Egretta garzetta Widespread and common in the lowlands. Also in Kandy. [Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis A dark phase bird at Bundala 2012] Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Several in Bundala and Yala areas Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Several in Bundala and Yala areas Great Egret Casmerodius albus Widespread and reasonably common Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia Widespread and common Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Widespread and very common. Considered distinct from Western Cattle Egret, B.ibis, by Rasmussen. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Widespread and very common Little Heron Butorides striatus 2 at Bundala, also Tissamaharama Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Several around Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Tissa area and Bundala [Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 1 at Sorabora 2012] Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis 1 at Tissa Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Yala and Bundala, locally common Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Widespread and locally numerous, as at Yala Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Mahiyangana area and Yala area Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 1 at Yala [Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 2 at Yala 2012] Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 2 at Bundala Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Common at Yala and Bundala, also in Sorabora area Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucordia Several at Yala and Bundala Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica Common at Yala and Bundala [Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelicus A few at Wirawila Wewa 2007] Garganey Anas querquedula Several at Yala Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Sorabora and c.5 on Day 8 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 2 on Day 8 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Widespread and reasonably common White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster Yala, Bundala, and Mirissa

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Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus A few in Bundala and Yala areas Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Widespread in low numbers [Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos An immature along Uda Walawe boundary 2007] [Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus Koggala Lake 2012] Shikra Accipiter badius Day 8 and Koggala Besra Accipiter virgatus 1 at Sinharaja [Common Buzzard Buteo buteo 1 on Horton Plains 2009. The correct taxonomic status of the Buteo wintering in Sri Lanka is unclear.] Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis 1 on Horton Plains [Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii 1 from Greenwoods Guesthouse 2012] [Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus A pale phase bird at Tissa 2012] Crested Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus Scattered records. Changeable Hawk-Eagle is now considered as a separate species, S.limnaeetus. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 2 on Horton Plains [Shaheen Falco peregrinus peregrinator 1 around Elephant Rock at Yala, 2009] [Jungle Bush-Quail Perdicula asiatica Yala 2012] Sri Lanka Spurfowl Galloperdix bicalcarata Endemic: Heard very closely at Sinharaja but very difficult to see! Sri Lanka Junglefowl Gallus lafayetti Endemic: Several at Yala and Bundala, mostly males. 3 males on Horton Plains. Much in evidence at Sinharaja. Often heard. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Common in Yala and Bundala areas. Heard at Sorabora. Seen in Koggala area and Victoria Radenigala. Barred Button-Quail Turnix suscitator 1 at Yala, 1 at Bundala White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Widespread and reasonably common Watercock Gallicrex cinerea A female at Bundala 2013 Purple Gallinule Porphyrio porphyrio Several at Yala and Bundala Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A few in Bundala and Yala areas Coot Fulica atra A few on Day 8 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Common on tanks in Tissa area, and a few at Yala and Bundala Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Several at Yala and Bundala Grey Plover Pluvialis squatorola A few at Bundala Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Several at Yala and Bundala Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Yala and Bundala, rather common Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus Several at Yala and Bundala Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus A few at Bundala and Yala Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Widespread and common [Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura Several around lakeshore at Nuwara Eliya, also Bundala 2012] Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago A few at Yala snipe sp. Gallinago sp. Unidentified individuals at Bundala and Koggala paddies Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Koggala Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1 at Bundala 2013 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Several at Yala and Bundala Common Redshank Tringa totanus Common at Yala and Bundala

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Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Several at Yala and Bundala Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Several at Yala and Bundala [Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus 1 at Yala 2012] Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Several at Yala and Bundala Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Widespread in small numbers Turnstone Arenaria interpres A few at Bundala [Sanderling Calidris alba Yala and Bundala 2012] Little Stint Calidris minuta Very common at Yala and Bundala Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Bundala Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Several at Yala and Bundala Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Large flocks at Yala and Bundala Ruff Philomachus pugnax A few at Yala and Bundala 2013 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Very common at Yala and Bundala Indian Stone Curlew Burhinus indicus Yala entrance road 2013 Great Thick-knee Burhinus recurvirostris Several at Bundala and Yala [Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum 1 at Bundala 2012] Small Pratincole Glareola lactea Several at Bundala 2013 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus A total of 8 at Bundala Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus A few at Yala and Bundala Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Yala and Bundala areas, and Mirissa Caspian Tern Sterna caspia A few at Bundala Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis A few at Koggala Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii Bundala and Koggala areas Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Bundala Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii A few at Bundala Common Tern Sterna hirundo Mirissa Little Tern/Saunder’s Tern Sterna albifrons/saundersi Yala. Indistinguishable in non-breeding plumage. Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus Several from the whale watching boat, including one landing on the boat itself. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Numerous at Tissa, Yala and Bundala, also Sorabora and Mirissa White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus A few at Yala and Bundala Rock Pigeon Columba livia Feral Pigeon widespread Sri Lanka Woodpigeon Columba torringtoni Endemic: 3+ seen very well on the Horton Plains, also at Sinharaja Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Widespread and very common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Heard at Udawattakelle, seen well at Boulder Garden Orange-breasted Green Treron bicincta Common at Yala and Bundala, also Koggala area Pigeon Ceylon Green Pigeon Treron pompadora Endemic: A pair near Koggala Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea Widespread in the lowlands Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus Endemic: Widespread and rather common, mostly in flight overhead this year! Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Greenwoods, and Day 4, Kandy Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Widespread and common Layard’s Parakeet Psittacula calthropae Endemic: A few in the Kandy area, and Sinharaja Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus Singletons at Yala and Bundala [Common Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus varius Heard at Peradineya 2012]

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Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus A hepatic female at Sorabora, a male at Kalametiya, 2012. 2013 heard only at Sorabora. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Scattered throughout, often heard Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Victoria Radenigala, Yala, and Kalemetiya [Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii 1 along Yala western boundary road, 2009] Red-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus Endemic: A few at Sinharaja seen very well ‘Southern’ Coucal Centropus [sinensis] parroti Widespread in small numbers Green-billed Coucal Centropus chlororhynchus Endemic: At least three seen very well at Sinharaja 2013 Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena 1 in a garden near Tissamaharama [Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis Debarawewa and Yala 2012] [Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica Heard in Upper Water Catchment, Kandy 2012] Chestnut-backed Owlet Glaucidium castanonotus Endemic: One seen well at Sinharaja [Brown Hawk-owl Ninox scutulata 1 along Bentota Ganga 2009] Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus monilieger 2 seen amazingly close, at Sinharaja [Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus Heard in Upper Water Catchment, Kandy, 2012] Jerdon’s Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis Yala 2013 [Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus A few in Yala area 2012] Indian Swiftlet Collocalia unicolor Scattered records Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus A few at Sinharaja Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Scattered throughout Alpine Swift Apus melba Over Sorabora Little Swift Apus affinis Scattered records Crested Tree-Swift Hemiprocne coronata Sorabora, Yala and Bundala, and Sinharaja Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus A few at Sinharaja Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Scattered records [Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting This rare species was seen at Bundala in 2004, also 1 seen there by the 2003 group] Black-backed Dwarf Ceyx erithacus A nesting pair at Sinharaja seen superbly Kingfisher Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis Only at tanks in Tissa area White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Widespread and common [Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata 1 at 2007] Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Yala and Bundala areas Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Locally common, as at Yala Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Widespread and common Chestnut-headed Merops leschenaulti Sorabora, Yala, and Bundala Bee-eater Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Remarkably 1 only this year, near Bundala Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 2 at Bundala Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill Ocyceros gingalensis Endemic: 1 near Victoria Radenigala 2009. Heard at Sinharaja 2013. Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus Seen superbly at Sorabora, and in Yala area Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica Widespread and quite common, often heard Yellow-fronted Barbet Megalaima flavifrons Endemic: Greenwoods and Upper Water Catchment etc., Kandy; Ella; Tissa; Sinharaja, etc. Ceylon Small Barbet Megalaima rubricapillus Endemic: Scattered – Kandy, Ella, Yala, and Koggala areas Coppersmith Megalaima haemacephala Several at Sorabora

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Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus 2 along Bentota Ganga, 1 at Uda Walawe 2007 2013 - 1 at Boulder Garden. Yellow-crowned Dendrocopos mahrattensis 1 at Bundala Woodpecker [Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Bentota Ganga and Sinharaja 2007] Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Subspecies psarodes: Widespread in small numbers. Seen on 7 days. Crimson-backed Chrysocolaptes stricklandi Endemic: 3 on Horton Plains 2012. 2013 2 at Flameback Udawattakelle, heard on Horton Plains. Split from Greater Flameback, C.lucidus. Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura 1 seen very well at Yala. Often heard. Jerdon’s Bushlark Mirafra affinis A few in Yala area Ashy-crowned Eremopterix grisea Yala area Sparrow-lark Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula A few in Yala and Bundala Swallow Hirundo rustica Widespread and very common Hill Swallow Hirundo dumicola Common on the Horton Plains Ceylon Swallow Hirundo hyperythra Endemic: Scattered records, e.g. Temple Loop, Yala, and Boulder Garden. Treated as a full species by Rasmussen. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Widespread and common. Some were ssp. lucionensis Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Widespread in small numbers Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 1 at Sinharaja White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Widespread in lowlands [Greater Racket-tailed Dicrurus paradiseus Uda Walawe in riverine forest, 2007.] Drongo Ceylon Crested Drongo Dicrurus lophorinus Endemic: A few at Sinharaja Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Tissa area Sri Lanka White-faced Sturnus senex Endemic: Seen very well at Sinharaja Starling [Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum 1 at Kalametiya 2012] Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus A few at Yala Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis Widespread and abundant Sri Lanka Mynah Gracula ptilogenys Endemic: Seen very well at Sinharaja Lesser Hill Mynah Gracula indica Several in Kandy area, and Ella Sri Lanka Blue Magpie Urocissa ornata Endemic: Some excellent close views at Sinharaja House Crow Corvus splendens Widespread and very common Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Widespread and very common [Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei 1 along Bentota Ganga (PGC) 2009] Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike Coracina melanoptera A pair at Yala Ceylon Wood-Shrike Tephrodornis affinis Endemic. 1 at Tissa. Split from Common Woodshrike, T.pondicerianus, by Rasmussen. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamoneus Scattered records, seen on 3 days Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Widespread in small numbers, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas, and Sinharaja Bar-winged Hemipus picatus Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas, and Sinharaja Flycatcher-Shrike Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Widespread - commonest in Yala and Bundala

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Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Kandy and Koggala [Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Udawattakelle 2012] Black-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus Endemic: Several at Sinharaja Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Widespread and very common Sri Lanka Yellow-eared Pycnonotus penicillatus Endemic: Common in the highlands Bulbul White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus Scattered records Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica Kandy area and Sinharaja Square-tailed Black Hypsipetes ganeesa Scattered records, common at Sinharaja Bulbul Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillum Endemic: seen well at Udawattakelle and Upper Water Catchment, Kandy Ceylon Scimitar- Pomatorhinus [schisticeps] Endemic: Victoria Park and Sinharaja Babbler melanurus Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra Victoria Radenigala Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps Victoria Radenigala and Sinharaja [Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense 1 at Yala on 2 days 2012] Sri Lanka Orange-billed Turdoides rufescens Endemic: Quite common at Sinharaja, where Babbler several flocks Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis Widespread and very common Ashy-headed Laughing Garrulax cinereifrons Endemic: A few flocks at Sinharaja Thrush Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa daurica Scattered records Brown-breasted Muscicapa muttui Kandy area and Sinharaja etc. Flycatcher Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra A male at Hakgala Dull Blue Flycatcher Eumyias sordida Endemic: Seen well on Horton Plains, and at Hakgala Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Peradineya and Sinharaja [Grey-headed Culicicapa ceylonensis Several in the highlands. Not seen 2013!] Canary Flycatcher White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Sorabora, Yala, Bundala, Boulder Garden Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea A few in mixed flocks at Sinharaja Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi Widespread in small numbers. Both rufous and white morph males were seen. Ceylon Bush Warbler Bradypterus palliseri Endemic: 1 on the Horton Plains Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Scattered records. Common on the Horton Plains. [Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsoni Mahiyangana Rest House, and Kalapiteya 2012] [Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Sorabora and Yala 2012] Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Widespread in small numbers [Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Scattered records, seen on 4 days, 2012] Indian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus brunnescens Several in reed beds at Bundala Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Widespread in small numbers [Hume’s Whitethroat Sylvia althaea 1 at Kalapiteya 2012] Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus Very scarce this year Large-billed Leaf WarblerPhylloscopus magnirostris Boulder Garden [Sri Lanka Whistling-thrush Myiophonus blighi Endemic: Horton Plains in previous years.] Spot-winged Thrush Zoothera spiloptera Endemic: Kottawa 2012, 2013 as usual at Sinharaja Ceylon Scaly Thrush Zoothera imbricata Endemic: A pair at Sinharaja

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[Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus Horton Plains 2012 and previous years. Split from Common Blackbird, T.merula.] Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea Males in Victoria Park and at Sinharaja Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis Widespread and common White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Upper Water Catchment and Udawattakelle, Kandy Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata Victoria Radenigala, Sorabora, Yala, and Bundala Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata Several on Horton Plains and around Nuwara Eliya Great Tit Parus major Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Nuwara Eliya area and Yala west Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava A few at Bundala, ssp.thunbergi Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Several in the highlands [White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis 1 at hotel tea stop near Tissamaharama (PGC) 2009] [Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii 1 near Bundala 2007.] Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Widespread in small numbers [Thick-billed Flower- pecker Dicaeum agile 1 at Sorabora 2009] Legge’s Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens Endemic: A few at Sinharaja 2007 Tickell’s Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos Widespread in small numbers Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica Widespread and reasonably common Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica Yala and Bundala Loten’s Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia Widespread in small numbers Sri Lanka White-eye Zosterops ceylonenesis Endemic: Common in Nuwara Eliya area Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Scattered records. Seen on 5 days. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Widespread and locally common [Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar A colony at Bundala 2012] Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Yala, Bundala, and Debarawewa, with nests. Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica 2 at Yala White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Embeke Devale Spotted Munia Lonchura punctulata Scattered records Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca Tissamaharama

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Systematic List Number 3 Reptiles

The nomenclature and taxonomic order from this list was originally taken from A Checklist of Sauria of Sri Lanka (1998) and Snakes of Sri Lanka (1998), both annotated checklists published by the and by Anslem de Silva. In addition the Coloured Atlas of Some Vertebrates of Ceylon Vol 2 Tetrapod Reptilia by Deraniyagala (1953) was used to aid identifications. ‘Snakes and Other Reptiles of Sri Lanka’ (2005) by Indraneil Das and Anslem de Silva is a good recent photographic guide. Also of use is ‘The Herpetofauna of the Knuckles Range’ by Goonewardene et al., 2006.

Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Several at Yala and Bundala. [Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus The small individuals at Bentota may well have belonged to this species, a closer look at that captive specimen may be necessary! 2009.] [Green Turtle Chelonia mydas 3 at Hikkaduwa seen by the snorkellers, 2007] Indian Mud Terrapin Lissemys punctata Scattered records, e.g.Kandy Lake and Yala Indian Pond Terrapin Melanochelys trijuga ssp. thermalis, Peradineya, Udawattakele, Kandy Lake, and Bundala Star Tortoise Geochelone elegans 1 at Sorabora, and 4 at Bundala, were a highlight of the 2012 tour. 2013 only 1 at Bundala. Green Calotes Calotes calotes Galadineya and Sinharaja [Black-lipped Calotes Calotes nigrilabis Endemic: 5 on the Horton Plains 2009. 2012 was the first time we have not seen this species there. Not seen 2013 either] Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Scattered records, e.g. Yala, Ella, Kandy, and Koggala [Rhino-horned Lizard Ceratophora stoddartii Endemic: 2009. One superb individual in elfin woods on Horton Plains, and 4 at Hakgala. 2012, 1 at Hakgala] Pygmy Lizard Cophotis ceylanica Endemic: Hakgala Botanic Garden [Humpnose Lizard Lyriocephalus scutatus Endemic: 2005, a fine male at Kottawa, and a female at Sinharaja] Sri Lankan Kangaroo Otocryptis wiegmanni Endemic: Several at Sinharaja Lizard Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Beaches in Yala and Bundala. In 2009 just one, prey of a Black-winged Kite, at Yala! 2013 Yala. [Kandian Day Gecko Cnemaspis kandiana Greenwoods Guesthouse 2012] Brooke’s House Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Yala, and in the Hotel Suisse. Common House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Common in the hotels. [a gecko Hemidactylus depressus 2005 Yala Village.] [Four-clawed Gecko Gehyra mutilata 2005, around habitation.] [Bent-toed Gecko sp. Cyrtodactylus sp. A male and female on a tree trunk at night in Upper Water Catchment, Kandy, was a tour highlight. Awaiting identification to species. There are several recently described very local endemics. 2009.] [Mourning Gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris This very impressive gecko was seen at Lunuganga, 2007. A rarely seen species.] [Common Lanka Skink Lankascincus fallax Endemic: Tissamaharama 2012] [Smooth Lanka Skink Lankascincus taprobanensis Endemic: Hakgala 2009.] Common Skink Mabuya carinata Also known as Brahminy Skink. Scattered. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 26

Rock Skink Mabuya macularia Sorabora [a skink Mabuya madrasii 2005 Kottawa.] Water Monitor Varanus salvator Scattered records, e.g. Koggala area, Kandy, Sorabora, and Sinharaja, some very large Land Monitor Varanus benghalensis Many at Bundala and Yala [Snake species Very small, c.4 inches long, Horton Plains 2004] [Common Rough-sided Aspidura trachyprocta One on the Horton Plains 2012] Snake Common Ratsnake Ptyas mucosus 2004- 1 at Udawattakele, and one across the road near Kottawa, c.1.5m long. 2005- 1 at Sorabora. 2007- 1 at Hakgala. 2009, Embekke Devale, Yala, and Hakgala. 2012- 1 at the first Kandy lunch restaurant. 2013- 1 at Sorabora, 1 at Sinharaja Common Bronzeback Dendrelaphis tristis Sinharaja Tree Snake Stripe-tailed Bronze- Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus Possibly this species at Sinharaja too back Tree Snake Chequered Keelback Xenochrophis piscator 2004- 2 seen well in water at Sorabora, 2005 – inland of Ahangama and at Sinharaja. 2013 Tissa tank. [Sri Lanka Keelback Xenochrophis asperrimus 2005- pools and steams at Sinharaja, one watched catching fish. Ditto 2007, 3 individuals seen. 2012- 2 in the pond at Udawattakelle.] [Buffstriped Keelback Amphiesma stolata 2004- one on beach in Yala.] [Sri Lanka Krait Bungarus ceylonicus 2005 one at Sinharaja] [Green Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasutus 2005 one at Sinharaja] [Green Pit Viper Trimeresurus trigonocephalus Endemic: 2005-1 seen well at Sinharaja. 2012- 1 seen very well at Udawattakelle.]

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Systematic List Number 4 Amphibians

The nomenclature and taxonomic order from this list was based on ‘Amphibia of Sri Lanka’ (1996), an annotated checklist by Anslem de Silva and published by the University of Peradeniya. In addition ‘The Amphibian Fauna of Sri Lanka’ (1996) by Dutta and Manamendra-Arachchi was used to aid identifications. The nomenclature now follows the recently published ‘Amphibians of Sri Lanka: A Photographic Guide’ by Anslem de Silva, 2009, a welcome addition to the literature.

Bufonidae [Kotogama’s Dwarf Toad Bufo kotagamai Endemic: This or a closely related newly described species at Hakgala 2005. Apparently this species at Lunuganga 2009, with the characteristic inwardly curved black warty parietal ridge.] Common House Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus 2004, 1 in toilet at Mahiyangana Rest House. 2005, Victoria Gardens, Nuwara Eliya. 2007, several in Bentota area, 1 at Upper Water Catchment, Kandy. 2009 Upper Water Catchment. Previously called Bufo melanostictus. 2012 Sorabora. 2013 Upper Water Catchment, Kandy.

Dicroglossidae Skipper Frog Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis Scattered, e.g. Tissa and Yala [Six-toed Green Frog Euphlyctis hexadactylis 2004 several at Bundala, large and striking bright green. 2009 Peradineya, prey of a Water Monitor.] [Sri Lanka Paddyfield-frog Fejervarya greenii Endemic: Usually at Hakgala, but not in 2009, or or Montane Frog 2012] Kirtisinghe’s Frog Fejervarya kirtisinghei Endemic: Upper Water Catchment, Kandy, 2009. 2013 probably this species at Boulder Garden. Common Paddyfield-frog Fejervarya limnocharis Scattered records [Jerdon’s Bull-frog Hoplobatrachus crassus 2004, young in puddle at Sorabora, bright green. 2005 heard at Pattipola.] Sri Lanka Rock Frog Nannophrys ceylonensis Endemic: Upper Water Catchment, Kandy

Microhylidae [Half-webbed Pug Snout Frog Ramanella palmata Endemic: This was the species seen at Hakgala. New in 2007. Also there in 2009.] [White-bellied Pug Snout Frog Ramanella variegata New in 2007. 1 at Tamarind Tree.]

Ranidae Golden Frog Hylarana aurantiaca Boulder Garden Common Wood Frog Rana temporalis Endemic: Hakgala and Boulder Garden 2007. 2009 Upper Water Catchment and Hakgala. 2012 Kottawa. 2013 Upper Water Catchment.

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Rhacophoridae [Round-snouted Pygmy Philautes femoralis Endemic: 2 on Horton Plains 2007, also there in Tree Frog 2005] [Pointed Snouted Shrub Frog Philautes nasutus Endemic: This or a closely related newly described species at Sinharaja 2005. This species is apparently extinct! Philautus cuspis?] [Common Shrub Frog Philautus popularis Endemic: Upper Water Catchment, Kandy, 2009.] [Gunter’s Shrub Frog Philautes variabilis Endemic: Hakgala 2005. This species is apprently extinct, so must be another taxon!] Small-eared Shrub-frog Pseudophilautus microtympanum Endemic: Horton Plains 2013 Common Hour-glass Polypedates cruciger Endemic: Boulder Garden Tree Frog Montane Hour-glass Polypedates eques Endemic: Upper Water Catchment, Kandy Tree Frog [Long-snouted Tree Frog Polypedates longinasus Endemic: 1 at Sinharaja 2005.]

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Systematic List Number 5 Marine Fishes

This is a composite list of all fish recorded on this tour over the years.

Moray Eel Gymnothorax (?) javanicus Lizardfish Synodus sp Hardyhead Silverside Antherinomorus lacunosis Island Halfbeak Hemiramphus archipelagicus Insular Halfbeak Hyporamphus affinis Soldierfish Myripristis murhjan Bronze Soldierfish Myripristis adusta Smallmouth Squirrelfish Sargocentron microstoma Lionfish Pterois volitans Cornetfish Fistularia commersonii Scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis ?oxycephala Peacock Grouper Cephalopholis argus Indian Grouper Epinephelus faveatus Saddled Grouper Epinephelus daemelii Tiger Cardinalfish Cheilodipterus macrodon Sharksucker Echeneis naucrates Bluefin Trevally Caaranx melampygus Silver Pomalo Trachinotus blochii Chequered Snapper Lutjanus decussatus Blacktail Snapper Lutjanus fulvus Bluestripe Snapper Lutjanus kasmira Oriental Sweetlips Plectorhinchus vittatus Blackspot Emperor Lethrinus harak Big-eye Emperor Monotaxis grandoculis Doublebar Goatfish Parupeneus bifasciatus Yellowstripe Goatfish Mulloidichthys flavolineatus Dash-and-dot Goatfish Parupeneus barberinus Indian Goatfish Parupeneus indicus Sweeper Pempheris vanicolensis Longfin Spadefish Platex teira Black-backed Butterflyfish Chaetodon melannotus Lined Butterflyfish Chaetodon lineolatus Vagabond Butterflyfish Chaetodon vagabundus Threadfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon auriga Indian Vagabond Chaetodon decussatus Butterflyfish Zanzibar Butterflyfish Chaetodon zanzibariensis Racoon Butterflyfish Chaetodon lunula Speckled Butterflyfish Chaetodon citrinellus Collared Butterflyfish Chaetodon collare Redfin Butterflyfish Chaetodon trifasciatus Meyer's Butterflyfish Chaetodon meyeri Chevroned Butterflyfish Chaetodon trifascialis Long-fin Bannerfish Heniochus acuminatus Yellowtail Angelfish Apolemichthys xanthurus Blue-ringed Angelfish Pomacanthus annularis

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Imperial Angelfish Pomocanthus imperator Semicircle Angelfish Pomocanthus semicirculatus Indo-pacific Sergeant Abudefduf vaigiensis Major Seven-bar Sergeant Abudefduf septemfasciatus Major Dick's Damsel Plectroglyphidodon dickii Jewel Damsel Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus Whiteband Damsel Plectroglpyidodon leucozonus Blue Devil Chrysiptera cyanea Surge Demoiselle Chrysiptera leucopoma Three-spot Damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus Yellowtail Damsel Neoopomacentus azysron Caerulean Damsel Pomacentrus caeruleus Philippine Damsel Pomocentrus phillippinus Whitetail Damsel Pomacentrus chrysurus Phoenix Damsel Plectroglphidodon phoenixensis Two-tone Chromis Chromis dimidiata Dusky Gregory Segastes nigricans Queen Coris Coris frerei Checkerboard Wrasse Halichoeres hortulanus Dusky Wrasse Halichoeres marginatus Nebulous Wrasse Halicoeres nebulosis Timor Wrasse Halichoeres timorensis Barred Thicklip Wrasse Hemigymnus fasciatus Blackedge Thicklip Hemigymnus metapteris Wrasse Bird Wrasse Gomphosus caeruleus Crescent Wrasse Thalassoma lunare Sixbar Wrasse Thalassoma hardwicke Cleaner Wrasse Labroides dimidiatus Bluebarred Parrotfish Scarus ghobban Barred Parrotfish Scarus caudofasciatus Sharpfin Barracuda Syphraena acutipinnis Yellowtail Barracuda Syphraena flavicauda Fringelip Mullet Crenimugil crenilabis Shrimp Goby Amblyeleotris periophthalma Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus Convict Surgeonfish Acantharus triostegus Powder-blue Acanthurus leucosternon Surgeonfish Striped Surgeonfish Acanthurus lineatus White-spotted Acanthurus guttatus Surgeonfish Striped Bristletooth Ctenocaetus stiatus Orangespine Unicornfish Naso lituratus Bluespine Unicornfish Naso unicornis Whitemargin Unicornfish Naso annulatus Java Rabbitfish Siganus javus Lined Rabbitfish Siganus lineatus

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Black Triggerfish Melichthis niger Orange-lined Balistapus undulatus Triggerfish Wedge-tail Triggerfish Rhinecanthus rectangulus Picassofish Rhinecanthus aculeatus Moustache Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens Scribbled Filefish Aluterus scriptus Blackspotted Puffer Arothron nigropuncatus Guineafowl Puffer Arothron meleagris Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix +

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Systematic List Number 6 Butterflies

The nomenclature and taxonomic order from this list is taken from ‘The Butterflies of Ceylon’ (1998) by Bernard d’Abrera and published by Hill House Publishers. Species seen in previous years are put in square brackets, to better represent those species that may be expected on the tour. Species annotated 2013 were added this year.

Papilionidae Fivebar Swordtail Pathysa antiphates Mud-puddling along Sinharaja track, perhaps more than one individual, 2013. Tailed Jay agamemnon Kandy and Yala west. Common Bluebottle Graphium sarpedon Horton Plains and Sinharaja. [Common Jay Graphium doson Recorded on previous tours.] [Common Mime Chilasa clytea Larvae on cinnamon in a Debarawewa garden, 2012.] Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus A few records, e.g. Yala. [Common Banded Peacock Papilio crino Seen at the picnic stop en route to Yala (inside the national park), 2012 and previous years.] Red Helen Papilio helenus A few at Hakgala and several at Sinharaja. Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Kandy area and Sinharaja. Common Mormon Papilio polytes Scattered records, e.g. Kandy and Sinharaja. Crimson Rose Papilio hector Widespread in small numbers. Common Rose Papilio aristolochiae Scattered records. Ceylon darsius Yala and Sinharaja.

Pieridae Small Salmon Arab Colotis amata A few at Yala and Bundala, and Kalapiteya. [Little Orange-tip Colotis etrida Kalapiteya 2012.] [Great Orange-tip Hebomoia glaucippe Yala, small numbers in the past.] Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Widespread and reasonably common. Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta Yala and Bundala areas. Three-spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda Sinharaja. [Spotless Grass Yellow Eurema laeta Hakgala 2012.] [One-spot Grass Yellow Eurema andersoni 1 in Sorabora area 2004. 2005- several in Victoria Radenigala sanctuary, also near Yala.] Yellow Orange-tip Ixias pyrene Yala and Bundala. White Orange-tip Ixias marianne Yala and Bundala. [Pioneer Belenois aurota Usually at Yala.] [Common Gull Cepora nerissa A few at Yala 2012.] Lemon Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Widespread and reasonably common. Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Widespread and often abundant. Common Jezebel eucharis Widespread and reasonably common. Dark Wanderer Pareronia ceylanica A few in Kandy area, etc. Psyche Leptosia nina Widespread in small numbers. Common Albatross Appias albina Widespread and common. Ceylon Lesser Albatross Appias paulina Scattered records. Striped Albatross Appias libythea Sorabora.

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Danaidae Tree Nymph Idea lynceus Several at Sinharaja. Glassy Tiger aglea Widespread and reasonably common. Ceylon Tiger Parantica taprobana Endemic: a few on the Horton Plains, and at Hakgala. [Blue Glassy Tiger Ideopsis similis Koggala area 2012.] Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Scattered records. Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis Scattered records. Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Widespread and reasonably common. Common Tiger Danaus genutia A few records. Great Crow Euploea phaenareta 1 at Sinharaja. [Double-banded Black Euploea sylvester A few at Yala in 2004.] Crow Common Crow Euploea core Widespread and common.

Nymphalidae N.B. Nymphalids were inexplicably few in number this year. [Tawny Rajah Charaxes psaphon A male at Yala west was a highlight, 2012.] The Clipper sylvia A few at Sinharaja. The Cruiser Vindula erota 1 at Sinharaja 2013. Blue Oakleaf Kallima philarchus 1 in flight at Sinharaja 2013. [The Baron Euthalia aconthea A female at Unawatuna in 2004. 2005- A female at Mahiyangana, 3 at Unawatuna, and a male near Colombo airport. 2009 a male at Peradineya, and a female at Bentota. 2012 a male at Peradineya, and a female at Hakgala.] [Gaudy Baron Euthalia lubentina New in 2007. A female at Embilipitya was the butterfly of the trip!] [The Rustic Cupha erymanthis 1 at Koggala 2012.] [Indian Fritillary Argynnis hyperbius A female at Hakgala 2012.] [Leopard Phalanta phalantha 1 at Sorabora.] [Small Leopard Phalanta alcippe 1 at Hakgala 2009.] Commander A few at Sinharaja. [Blue Admiral Kaniska canace 2+ on Horton Plains in 2004. 2009 1 at Hakgala.] [Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 1 at Yala in 2004, 1 in Kandy in 2005] Common Sailor Neptis hylas Scattered records, seen on 4 days. Chestnut-streaked Sailor Neptis jumbah Sorabora and Sinharaja. [Common Laskar Pantoporia hordonia 1 at the Boulder Garden 2007.] [Angled Castor Ariadne ariadne Sorabora and Yala 2012.] Black Prince Rohana parisatis Singletons at Udawattakele in both years, and 1 dead and 1 living at Hakgala in 2005. 2012 a female at Hakgala was a highlight. 2013 2 males at Udawattakelle. [Tamil Yeoman Cirrochroa thais A few in Kandy area 2004, 2005 Kottawa. 2009 Udawattakelle.] [Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Recorded 2009.] Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina Widespread and not uncommon. Chocolate Soldier Junonia iphita Kandy area, Sorabora, Yala, and Sinharaja. [Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Koggala area 2013.] Lemon Pansy Sorabora and Yala.

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Peacock Pansy Junonia almana Koggala area.

Satyridae Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda In the hotel at Kandy, and in town too. Tamil Treebrown drypetis 1 at Sinharaja 2013. Ceylon Treebrown Lethe daretis A few on Horton plains in 2004 and 2005. A dead individual at Galway Forest in 2007. Horton Plains and Hakgala in 2009. 1 on Horton Plains 2012. 2013 Hakgala. White Four-ring Widespread and locally common. [Jewel Four-ring Ypthima singala A good find in 2005, on the journey to Yala, a new record for the tour] [Dark-brand Bush-brown Mycalesis mineus Sorabora 2012.] [Common Bushbrown Mycalesis perseus 1 at Sorabora in 2004.] [Tamil Bushbrown Mycalesis visala 1 at Victoria Radenigala 2012.] Glad-eye Bushbrown Nissanga patnia Udawattakelle and several in Sinharaja. a satyrid Orsotriaena medus Sorabora, Koggala area, and Boulder Garden. [Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra A few south west coast 2004, a female at Tissa in 2005]

Acraeidae Tawny Coster Acraea violae Yala.

Lycaenidae [Apefly Spalgis epeus 1 at Gadaldeniya Temple near Kandy 2007.] Indian Sunbeam Curetis thetis 1 at Sorabora 2013. Aberrant Bushblue Arhopala abseus mackwoodi Several at Sinharaja 2013. [Common Blue vivarna 2 at Sorabora in 2005] [Redspot Zesius chrysomallus 1 at Peradineya, 2 in Koggala area 2012.] [Yamfly Loxura atymnus 1 at Peradineya in 2004, 1 at Unawatuna in 2005.] Monkey Puzzle Rathinda amor 1 at Yala west. [Nilgiri Tit nilgirica New in 2007. 1 at Sinharaja was an important find.] [Common Guava Blue Virachola isocrates Koggala area 2012.] Slate Flash Rapala manea SEveral in Udawattakelle 2013. [Indigo Flash Rapala varuna 1 en route to Yala 2004.] [Malabar Flash Rapala lankana 1 at Sinharaja 2004, an important record.] [Large 4-line Blue Nacaduba pactolus Sorabora 2005.] [Pale Ceylon 6-line Blue Nacaduba sinhala 1 at Sinharaja 2007.] [Transparent 6-line Blue Nacaduba kurava Sorabora 2005.] [Opaque 6-line Blue Nacaduba beroe Sorabora 2005.] [Common Line-blue Prosotas nora Scattered records 2009.] Tailless Line-blue Prosotas dubiosa Sinharaja. Dark Caerulean Jamides bochus Widespread and locally common. [Ceylon Caerulean Jamides coruscans 1 at Sinharaja 2004.] Metallic Caerulean Jamides alecto Sinharaja. Common Caerulean Jamides celeno Widespread in small numbers. Forget-me-not Catachrysops strabo Gadaldineya.

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Pea Blue Lampides boeticus Horton Plains, 1 in 2004, several in 2005, also Hakgala in 2005 (also known as Long-tailed Blue). 2009 Sorabora, Horton Plains, and Yala. 2012 Temple Loop and common in Nuwara Eliya area. 2013 Temple Loop. [Zebra Blue Syntarucus plinius 1 at Yala 2012.] Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Unawatuna in both years, and Sorabora in 2005. 2009, 1 at Victoria Radenigala. 2012 Victoria Radenigala and Koggala area. 2013 Yala west. Blue-banded Pierrot 1 at Yala in 2004, 1 at Unawatuna in 2005. 2012 Sorabora and Koggala area. 2013 Sinharaja. Angled Pierrot Caleta decidia 1 at Sinharaja in 2004. 2009, 1 on Horton Plains. 2013 Sinharaja. [Butler’s Spotted Pierrot Tarucus callinara Yala and Kalametiya 2012.] [Grass Jewel Freyeria trochilus New in 2007. 2 near the south coast. 2012 Tissamaharama.] Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra A few records. Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis Bentota and Peradineya 2007. 2012 scattered records. 2013 scattered records. Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax 2004- Yala area, 2005- Sorabora. 2012 scattered records. 2013 Yala west. [Red Pierrot Talicada nyseus Embilipitya 2007. 2009 Greenwoods and Lanka Tilake. 2012 Kandy, Temple Loop, and Tissa area.] [Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus Scattered records 2012.] [African Babul Blue Azanus jesous A few in the south-east 2012.] [Common Hedge Blue Actyolepis puspa 2 at Sorabora 2005.] [White Hedge Blue akasa 1 on Horton Plains 2005.] Ceylon Hedge Blue Udara lanka Several on Horton Plains this year. [Singalese Hedge Blue Udara singalensis Hakgala 2012.] Plain Hedge Blue lavendularis Sinharaja. [Quaker Neopithecops zalmora 1 at Sorabora in 2005.] [The Malayan Megisba malaya c.5 at picnic stop on way to Yala 2004, and c.10 there in 2012.] [Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Bentota area 2007. 2012 1 at Kottawa.] Plains Cupid Chilades pandava Scattered records. Lime Blue Chilades laius Unawatuna.

Riodinidae Plum Judy Abisara echerius 1 at Sinharaja.

Hesperiidae [Common Banded Awl Hasora chromus 1 on Horton Plains 2004.] [White-banded Awl Hasora taminatus 2004- 1 on Horton Plains, 2005- 3 in Kandy area. 2009, 1 on Horton Plains.] [The Brown Awl Badamia exclamationis 1 at Kottawa in 2004.] [Common Small Flat Sarangesa dasahara Sorabora 2004, 2009, and 2012.] Water Snow Flat Tagiades litigiosa Sinharaja 2013. Hedge Hopper vittatus Horton Plains 2004 and 2005, and Siunharaja in 2004 and 2013.

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Bush Hopper Ampittia dioscorides A few in the south-west 2012. 2013 Day 15. [Indian Palm Bob Suastus gremius 1 at Bentota 2007.] Chestnut Bob Iambrix salsala Scattered records 2007. 2009 only Sorabora. 2012 Yala west and Koggala area. 2013 scattered records. [Grass Demon Udaspes folus 1 at Sorabora 2012.] [Common Banded Demon paralysos 1 at Sinharaja 2007.] [Restricted Demon Notocrypta curvifascia 2 at Sinharaja 2007.] [Tree Flitter Hyarotis adrastus 1 each day at Sinharaja 2007.] [Indian Skipper Spialia galba Yala 2004. 2012 Victoria Radenigala.] [Common Grass Dart Taractocera maevius Peradineya Botanical Garden in 2004.] [Common Dartlet Oriens goloides 1 at Udawattakelle 2004, and at Sinharaja in 2005.] [Dart sp. confuscius Sinharaja 2007.] Indian Dart Potanthus pallida Maybe this species in Koggala area. [Dart sp. Potanthus sp. Bentota area 2007.] [Palm Dart sp. Telicota colon 1 near Kandy 2005.] [Dark Palm Dart Telicota ancilla Brief Garden 2007.] Conjoined Swift Pelopidas conjuncta Kandy area. Wallace’s Swift Borbo cinnara 2 at Sorabora, and Koggala area, 2012. Also 2013?

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Systematic List Number 7 Dragonflies and Damselflies

The nomenclature and taxonomic order is taken from The Dragonflies of Sri Lanka (2000) by de Fonseka, and the identifications were made using this book and the ‘Jetwing’ booklet ‘Dragonflies of Sri Lanka’ produced by Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne.

Zygoptera Calopterygidae Oriental Green-wing Neurobasis chinensis By the waterfall below Ella and at Sinharaja. Black-tipped Demoiselle Vestalis apicalis Endemic: Around the Boulder Garden near Sinharaja.

Euphaeidae [Shining Gossamerwing Euphaea splendens Endemic: Sinharaja 2007.]

Chlorocyphidae Ultima Gem Libellago finalis Endemic: A few at Embekke Devale 2013. [Green’s Asian Jewel Libellago greeni Endemic: 1 in Peradineya in 2004.]

Lestidae Mountain Reedling Indolestes gracilis Endemic: Nuwara Eliya and Hakgala.

Platycnemididae [Yellow Featherleg Copera marginipes Peradineya, 2007.]

Protoneuridae Jungle Threadtail Elattoneura caesia Endemic: a few at Sinharaja 2013. [Dark-glittering Pinfly Elattoneura centralis Endemic: Several at Brief Garden 2007.]

Coenagrionidae [Pygmy Midget Agriocnemis pygmaea Lunuganga 2009. 2012 Sorabora.] [Marsh Dancer Onychargia atrocyana Several at Lunuganga, 2009.] [Malayan Blue Cercion malayanum Bundala 2005. Tissamaharama 2012.] Dawn Bluetail Ischnura aurora Peradineya 2013. Ubiquitous Bluetail Ischnura senegalensis Bundala, Yala and Debara Wewa 2012. [Painted Waxtail Ceriagrion cerinorubellum Lunuganga, new in 2007. Also 2009.] Yellow Damselfly Ceriagrion coromandelicum Several at Debarawewa 2007 and 2012. 2009 Peradineya, Lunuganga. 2013 Peradineya and Day 8. Blue Sprite Pseuadgrion microcepahlum Yala and Tissa areas. Malabar Sprite Pseudagrion malabaricum Peradineya 2013. Sri Lanka Orange-faced Pseudagrion rubriceps Peradineya and Sorabora. Sprite ceylonicum

Platycnemididae [Fraser’s Shadowdamsel Drepanosticta fraseri Endemic: Possibly this very rare species at Kottawa 2012.]

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Anisoptera Aeshnidae [(an emperor dragonfly) Anax guttata 2004 one at lunch stop on way to Yala, 2005 1 at Sorabora. 2007, 1 at Ella. 2009 Peradineya.]

Libellulidae [Sombre Lieutenant Brachydiplax sobrina Debarawewa etc. 2009.] [Pruinosed Bloodtail Lathrecista asiatica 1 in Koggala area 2012.] Red Skimmer Orthetrum chrysis At the Research Station, Sinharaja. Asian Skimmer Orthetrum glaucum Ella etc. Pink Skimmer Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum Peradineya and Hakgala 2013. Sombre Skimmer Orthetrum sabina Widespread, e.g. Peradineya and Sinharaja. Triangle Skimmer Orthetrum triangulare Several at Hakgala 2013. Blue Pursuer Potomarcha congener Several at Peradineya 2013. [Asian Pintail Acisoma panorpoides Scattered low elevation records, e.g. Tissa and Debara Wewa 2012.] Orange-winged Brachythemis contaminata Embilipitya 2007. Bundala 2009. Sorabora, Yala, Groundling and Debarawewa etc. 2012 and 2013. Eastern Scarlet Darter Crocothemis servilia Yala, females or young numerous, and Bentota River 2009. 2012 Peradineya and Debarawewa. 2013 Peradineya and Kalametiya. Little Blue Darter Diplacodes trivialis 2009 Bundala and Sorabora. Also Lunuganga. 2012 Debara Wewa. 2013 Yala west and Kalametiya. Black Velvet-wing Neurothemis tullia 2009 and 2012, common at Yala, Bundala, the southwest coast and Sorabora, also at Peradineya. 2013 widespread. [Spine-legged Reedling Rhodothemis rufa Debara Wewa 2012.] Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombei Hakgala. Crimson Dropwing Trithemis aurora A particularly amazing pink-purple. Noted at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens 2009. 2013 Yala west. Indigo Dropwing Trithemis festiva Scattered records. [Dancing Dropwing Trithemis pallidinervis Recorded 2012.] Variable Glider Rhyothemis variegata Common at tanks in Yala area 2009 and 2012. Tissa and Kalemetiya 2013. Wandering Glider Pantala flavescens Locally numerous 2009 and 2012. Scattered records 2013. Red-veined Glider Tramea basilaris Tissa area. Sociable Glider Tramea limbata Peradineya 2012 and 2013. Foggy-winged Twister Tholymis tillarga Inside the Hotel Suisse 2013. Dingy Duskflyer Zyxomma petiolatum Around the hotel ponds at Tissa at dusk, 2013. [Scarlet Basker Urothemis signata Debarawewa 2012.]

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Systematic List Number 8 Vascular Plants

This is a composite list of the flora recorded on our Sri Lankan tours from 2003 onwards. On the return from the 2012 tour I bought the first 9 volumes of ‘A Revised Handbook To The Flora Of Ceylon’, by Dassanayake, M. D. and Fosberg, F. R. (Ed.) (1980 onward), New Delhi: Amerind Publishing Co.

Published in 2008, ‘Illustrated field guide to the flowers of Sri Lanka’ by J.& J.de Vlas is an extremely useful photographic field guide, covering some 1,000 species. ‘A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka’, by Ashton, M.S., Gunatilleke, S., de Zoysa, N., Dassanayake, M.D., Gunatilleke, N. and Wijesundera, S. (1997), Colombo: WHT Publications, is an excellent guide to the woody species.

Families are arranged in alphabetical order, and within each family, species are similarly listed alphabetically. Many alien species are naturalised in Sri Lanka, from Pan-tropical species in the lowlands to plants of the temperate zone around Nuwara Eliya – these are marked N. There is also interest in some species cultivated in Sri Lanka, either ornamentally (gardens/roadsides) or commercially. Such non-wild species do not strictly belong in an account of natural history like this, and, although included in the list, are demarcated by {brackets}.

Ferns and their allies [Note: Many habitats were very fern-rich (especially montane and rain-forest), and there remained very many unidentified species e.g. there were at least 7 unnamed species in both the Horton Plains elfin forest and Hakgala botanic garden, as well as a fine array of epiphytes in the Koggala mangroves]

Adiantaceae Maidenhair Ferns Adiantum spp Forest floor at Udawattakele, near the Knuckles, rocks in Randenigala Reserve and Hakgala botanic garden [Several species seen including one like houseplant, another with wide oblong pinnules]

Aspleniaceae (a spleenwort) Asplenium sp? Forest: hairpins near Hasalaka, rocks in Randenigala Reserve and below Rawana Ella falls [Possibly the identity of leathery long- stalked cordate fern] (a spleenwort) Asplenium sp? Rocks in Randenigala Reserve [Very distinctive – tiny palmate frond with narrow oblong pinnules] {Bird’s-nest Fern} {Asplenium nidus-avis} Peradeniya Botanical Gardens greenhouses, etc. [Epiphyte – very much living up to its name]

Azollaceae (a water fern) Azolla sp Tissamaharama tank [Tiny free-floating fern: closely overlapping leaves, slightly grey-green]

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Blechnaceae Paathara Blechnum orientale Forest floor at Udawattakele, (and Sinharaja) [Large tufted 1-pinnate fern] (a woodwardia) Woodwardia sp? Upper Water Catchment forest and Lankatilake [Similar to latter but broader frond]

Cyatheaceae (a tree fern) Cyathea crinita Nuwara Eliya [Large 3-4 pinnate fronds; spores not covered in an indusium] (a tree fern) Cyathea gigantea Upper Water Catchment forest and Nuwara Eliya [Large 2-3 pinnate fronds; spores not covered in an indusium] (a tree fern) Cyathea walkerae Sinharaja forest (possibly also around Kandy) [As C. crinita but with indusia]

Gleicheniaceae Kekilla Dichranopteris linearis Forming thickets by tracks in Sinharaja. Same species or related by road in forested hills, especially east of Kandy and on Horton Plains; also near Ahangama [Tall fern with fronds forking and 1-pinnate]

Hymenophyllaceae (a filmy fern) Hymenophyllum sp? Moist rock faces on Horton Plains [Typical tiny trans-lucent filmy fern but more coriaceous than usual]

Hypolepidaceae Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Toward Nanu Oya (tea-growing areas), round Nuwara Eliya and on Horton Plains [Familiar tall branched and creeping fern]

Lindsaeaceae (a fern) Lindsaea caudata? Forest on Upper Water Catchment and Sinharaja [Large 1-pinnate fern climbing up trunks like ivy]

Lycopodiaceae (a fir clubmoss) Huperzia sp Epiphytic on trees in elfin forest of Horton Plains [From next by tufted little-branched stems] (clubmoss) Lycopodium sp Wet patana on Horton Plains [Differs from next type in its decumbent habit and chunky angled cone] (clubmoss) Lycopodium cernuum? Open scrub on Horton Plains and forest in Sinharaja [Resemble big branched moss with stiff spreading leaves and cone-like bodies]

Marsileaceae “4-leaved clover” Marsilea sp Shallow water and edges of paddy-fields: Yala NP, Tissamaharama tank and near Ahangama [Short creeping fern: frond with 4-leaflets – looked very similar to European M. quadrifolia]

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Oleandraceae (a ladder fern) Nephrolepis acutifolia? Rocks by Boulder Garden [Typical ladder fern, but with spore-heaps united along outer edge of pinnae] {a ladder fern) {Nephrolepis exaltata?} Planted in Kandy [Typical ladder fern but with marginal spore heaps distinct]

Ophioglossaceae (a moonwort) Botrychium sp Forest floor, Upper Water Catchment [Forked frond: one half sterile and pinnate, the other fertile, rather resembling dock flower]

Polypodiaceae “Oak Fern” Drynariopsis heraclea? Epiphytic in Upper Water Catchment (Kandy) and by Ahangama paddies [Dimorphic fronds: 1) deep-lobed spreading & 2) toothed, deeply veined clasping trunk] Dragon’s-scale Fern Pyrrosia pilloseloides? Epiphytic by Ahangama paddies [Tiny fleshy fern, also dimorphic 1) oval; and 2) linear]

Pteridaceae Golden Mangrove-fern Acrostichum aureum? Mangrove swamp in and around Koggala lake [Large pinnate fern, upper pinnae reduced, covered densely beneath in orange-brown spores] (no common name) Pteris sp? Forest floor at Udawattakele [Typical 1-pinnate Pteris with spore-heaps down midvein]

Salviniaceae (a water-fern) Salvinia auriculata Tissamaharama tank, pool by Sithulpahuwa temple road (Yala NP) and paddies near Ahangama [Typical free-floating Salvinia with opposite paired leaves and submerged leaves modified to function like roots] (a water-fern) Salvinia natans Lake Gregory (Nuwara Eliya) [Very similar to latter]

Schizaeaceae (climbing ferns) Lygodium spp On trees by paddies near Ahangama [Climbers with deltoid pinnate fronds (>1 species probably present)] (a curly-grass) Schizaea sp On trees by paddies near Ahangama [From latter by more scrambling habit and forking linear fronds]

Selaginellaceae (clubmosses) Selaginella spp Moist forest floor: Upper Water Catchment (Kandy), Hakgala botanic garden and Sinharaja [Several frond-like species may occur: 2-3 pinnate branched, (dorsiventrally flattened, tiny overlapping leaves)]

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(clubmosses) Selaginella spp Weed in Peradeniya and Hakgala botanic gardens; common in elfin forest on Horton Plains; by Boulder Garden and Sinharaja [From latter by less divided form, more moss-like (close to S. kraussiana)] Conifers Araucariaceae {Kauri pine} {Agathis robusta} Peradeniya Botanical Gardens [Tall tree with leathery veinless barrow-lanceolate leaves] {Cook’s Pine} {Araucaria cookii} Peradeniya Botanical Garden in wind-distorted avenue [Tall “geometrical” columnar tree with needle leaves] {Norfolk Island Pine} {Araucaria excelsa} Planted in cooler areas of the island [Similar to last]

Cupressaceae {Monterey Cypress} {Cupressus macrocarpa} By Farr Inn on Horton Plains [Big spreading tree with opposite/whorled appressed scale-like leaves and cones with 8-12 scales]

Cycadaceae {a cycad} {Cycas revoluta} Planted in Koggala Beach hotel [Resembling squat almost stemless palm with rigid pinnate leaves]

Pinaceae Caribbean Pine N Pinus caribaea Plantations on the Knuckles, in the hills up to Nanu Oya, below Horton Plains and Sinharaja [3-needle pine, dark green glossy leaves] Patula Pine N Pinus patula In similar situations and areas to last, but less common [As latter but 3-4 needles per drooping cluster]

Podocarpaceae {a podocacrp} {Podocarpus macrophyllus} Planted in Kandy [Tall coniferous tree, but leaves longer and wider than typical needles]

Angiosperms DICOTYLEDONES Katu ikili Acanthus illicifolius By lagoon behind beach in Yala NP. Also Bentota Ganga 2009. [Low shrub: opposite holly- like leaves and blue leathery flowers] {no common name} {Acanthus sennei} Gardens by Unawatuna beach [Red-flowered typical acanthus – native to ] {no common name} {Aphelandra sinclairiana} Gardens in Kandy [Resembles rosy-red multi- headed Justicia] Puruk Asystasia gangetica Widespread and locally common [Clamberer with opposite ovate leaves: white asymmetric flowers with purple lower lip and throat] (no common name) Barleria prionitis Sorabora

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(no common name) Blepharis maderaspatensis? Moist rocks by road over the Knuckles [Creeping herb with acanthus flowers pink/purple veined] {no common name} {Crossandra infundibuliformis} Planted in Kandy [1m tall shrub with glossy rather drooping leaves; spike of salmon-orange flowers] {no common name} {Crossandra nilotica} Planted in Kandy [Small evergreen shrub: cluster of red flowers on long peduncle] {no common name} { pulchellum} Planted in Kandy [Low shrub: head of small purple flowers] (no common name) Gymnostachyum ceylanicum Cultivated at Peradineya, an endemic species {no common name} {Hemigraphis alternata} Planted in Kandy [Scrambling much-branched ground cover: pinkish stems, leaves purple- green above and purple below (“colorata”); tubular purple flowers] Katu-ikiriya Hygrophila schulli Sorabora 2012 [Tall emergent: opposite leaves have spines and long purplish-blue flowers at base] {no common name} {Hypoëstes phyllostachys} Hakgala botanic garden [Slender herb: narrow leaves and whorls of 2-lipped purplish flowers] Suduu-puruk Justicia betonica Koggala [Low bush with narrow lanceolate leaves; dense spikes of pink flowers, almost hidden by whitish grey bracts] Shrimp-flower N Justicia brandegeana ±naturalised, Unawatuna margins {planted elsewhere} [Low shrub: salmon-pink overlapping bracts, white flowers. Still best known as Beloperone guttata] {no common name} {Justicia (Jacobinia) carnea} Gardens in Kandy 3 [2m shrub, head of pink flowers lower lip 3 lobed] (no common name) Justicia procumbens Scattered records (no common name) Justicia royeniana Horton Plains {no common name} {Pachystachys lutea} Gardens in Kandy [1m evergreen shrub: spikes with yellow bracts and short-lived white hooded flowers] {no common name} {Pseuderanthemum atro- Garden near Koggala Spice Garden [Smooth, purpureum} purple- leaved ornamental] {no common name} {Pseuderanthemum carruthersii} Koggala Beach hotel [Subshrub: pink-centred white 4-lobed flowers; gold variegated leaves (reticulatum)] (no common name) Rhinacanthus nasutus Sorabora {no common name} {Ruellia portellae?} Gardens in Kandy [Low growing herb, red green velvet leaves and rosy-pink tubular trumpets] Nil-puruk N Ruellia tuberosa Bare ground by river (Yala NP) and by lanes at Unawatuna [Low herb: stem square (swollen nodes); and 4cm violet flowers] {no common name} {Sanchezia nobilis} Gardens in Kandy [Bushy: fresh green leaves with yellow veins; yellow tubular flowers, reddish bracts] (no common name) Strobilanthes bilaria? Sinharaja NP gate [From next by pale purple flowers]

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Kaha-nelu Strobilanthes calycina Horton Plains: montane forest understorey and edges, in leaf [Low shrub: opposite oval toothed leaves; drooping heads of lemon-yellow flowers, overlapping bracts in green hop-like head] {no common name} {Strobilanthes dyerianus} Peradeniya botanic garden [Ground cover (60cm): leaves with metallic silver intervenal zones when old, but purple when young] (no common name) Strobilanthes pulcherrima Horton Plains (no common name) Strobilanthes sexennis In leaf in elfin forest by Baker’s Falls. [Flowers only every 12 years or so] Nelu Strobilanthes viscosa By path in elfin forest, Little World’s End (Horton Plains), in leaf [Endemic: low shrub with oval toothed leaves and 2cm pale purple tubular flowers (like Penstemon with recurved lobes)]

Aizoaceae (no common name) Sesuvium portulacastrum Moist coastal sand in Yala NP [Prostrate fleshy opposite-leaved herb: star-like flowers green outside and pink within]

Amaranthaceae [Weedy amaranths were frequent on waste ground as at Lankatilake and on shores in Bundala (globular heads)] (no common name N) Achyranthes aspera Weed: Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya, near Kande Ela reservoir, Peradineya etc. [Spicate amaranth with reflexed fruit] (no common name) Aerva lanata Scattered records {no common name} {Alternanthera brasiliensis} Gardens in Kandy [Brightly coloured leaves for low borders] {no common name} {Alternanthera sessilis} Scattered records [Similar to latter, but forming mats, with small white flowers in leaf-axils] {Cock’s-comb} { argentea} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya (var argentea) and Koggala Beach (var cristata) [Latter is familiar red annual cock’s-comb, former has pink spikes (redder tops)] (no common name) celosioides Sorabora {an iresine} {Iresine diffusa} Gardens in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya [1m subshrub whose red leaves have pink veins]

Anacardiaceae {Cashew} {Anacardium occidentale} Gardens/groves near Colombo [Small tree: leathery obovate leaves and sprays of yellow fragrant flowers] Arrida Campnosperma zeylanicum Sinharaja forest canopy [Large tree with oblanceolate leaves (rufous scaly beneath) crowded at branch ends, twigs leaf-scarred and pulpy purple fruit] {Smoke Tree} {Cotinus coggygria} Gardens in Kandy [Shrub with ovate untoothed leaves, feathery fruit-stalks; here red-leaved atropurpureus]

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{Mango} {Mangifera indica} Planted by roads and in gardens e.g. Colombo, Kandy and Sinharaja [Large fruiting tree with alternate lanceolate leaves]

Annonaceae Wal anoda N Annona glabra Scrub on Koggala lake island [Small tree: alternate, acute, elliptic prominently net-veined leaves and pulpy yellow edible fruit] {Sugar apple} {Annona squamosa} Koggala spice garden [Tree with aromatic oblong leaves and yellow-green fruit covered in warts] Ylang Ylang N Cananga odorata By track in Udawattakele [Tree: alternate untoothed leaves and fragrant flowers] {Ovila} {Polyalthia longifolia} Planted on verges in Kandy etc. (though native in Sri Lanka) [Columnar var pendula: tree, alternate narrow oblong-lanceolate leaves] Athu ketiya Xylopia championii Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic small tree: lanceolate with tapering acuminate tip; scarlet fruit]

Apiaceae (formerly known as Umbelliferae) (a hare’s-ear) Bupleurum mucronatum Pantana near World’s End (Horton Plains) [Typical but slightly reddish hare’s-ear with lanceolate leaves and small umbels of yellowish flowers] Not found 2012 or 2013. (a hare’s-ear) Bupleurum sp Path through Elfin woods between World’s End and Little World’s End (Horton Plains) [Similar but much smaller and not reddish] Not found 2012 or 2013. (a marsh pennywort) Centella asiatica? Moist turf in Hakgala botanic garden [Ascending with leaves like currant] Fennel N Foeniculum vulgare Verges near Nuwara Eliya [Feathery foliage, yellow umbels, aniseed aroma]

Apocynaceae {Desert Rose} {Adenium obesum} Planted in Koggala Beach hotel [Low fleshy bush resembling a “bonsai baobab”; thick leaves and long pink flowers] Yellow Allamanda N Allamanda cathartica Planted and also ±naturalised on verges near Colombo [Shrub: whorled leaves & large yellow trumpets] {an allamanda} {Allamanda neriifolia} [As last but smaller flowers] {an allamanda} {Allamanda violacea} Koggala Beach hotel [From other allamandas by rose-violet flowers, climbing habit and shiny dark leaves] Hawari Nuga Alstonia macrophylla Recorded {Maha karamba} {Carissa carandas} Gardens in Kandy (though a wild native in Sri Lanka) [Shrub: small obovate opposite leaves; long spines at alternate nodes, milky latex; white star-like flowers]

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Heen karamba Carissa spinarum Scrub in Bundala NP [Small tree with white latex: both rhomboid leaves and spines opposite; white star-like flowers and black berries] Rose Periwinkle N Catharanthus roseus ±naturalised on verges near Unawatuna {planted in Kandy} [1m bush: opposite leaves, 4cm pink flowers] Suicide Tree Cerbera odollam Very common south-west coast, mainly among mangroves [small tree with 5 petalled white flowers and spherical green highly poisonous fruits] Ceylon Jasmine N Ervatamia divaricata ±naturalised near Buddhist temples close to Kandy and by lanes at Unawatuna {planted at Hotel Suisse} [2m shrub: glossy opposite leaves and fragrant 4cm white jasmine-like flowers (spirally rotate)] Synonym Tabernaemontana divaricata. Kiri-wel Ichnocarpus frutescens Victoria Radenigala 2012 [Climber: sprays of tiny white 5-petalled flowers and opposite leaves] {Oleander} {Nerium oleander} Gardens in Kandy [Shrub with long leathery leaves, and gaudy pink (or white or yellow) flowers] Frangipani N Plumeria acuminata Commonly planted but also ±naturalised on verges near Colombo [Shrub: big obovate alternate leaves and fragrant white flowers with strong orange centre] Great Frangipani N Plumeria obtusa Planted but also ±naturalised on verges near Colombo and by temple ruin on Sithulpahuwa road (Yala NP) [As latter but with a yellow centre] Red Frangipani N Plumeria rubra With latter (and hybrids) near Colombo [Typical Plumeria but reddish-white or yellow flowers] Yellow Oleander N Thevetia peruviana By Kandy lake, Mahiyangana and Tissamaharama tank etc. [Shrub: yellow trumpets and linear-lanceolate deep green leaves] Wal-eddha Walidda antidysenterica Moist areas in Bundala [Endemic small bushy tree: lanceolate leaves, milky latex; waxy white jasmine-like flowers (oval petals with corona of scales)] Rosy Milkweed Twiner Oxystelma secamone Debarawewa 2007

Araliaceae {no common name} {Polyscias balfouriana} Gardens in Kandy [1m erect shrub: pinnate leaves with round crinkled green and cream leaflets] {no common name} {Schefflera arboricola} Gardens in Kandy [House plant shrub: evergreen leaves like horse-chestnut. Variegated form]

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Aristolochiaceae (a birthwort N) ringens Forest edges in Upper Water Catchment [Woody climber with 20cm Dutchman’s pipe flowers]

Asclepiadaceae [White-flowered Asclepiad vines occurred at Randenigala Reserve (paired silky pods) and Yala (with cordate leaves plus all parts including petals hairy)] Wara Calotropis gigantea Common in the south-east [Shrub with oblong opposite leaves, milky latex and umbel-like heads of pale violet flowers]

Asteraceae (formerly known as Compositae) (a flossflower) Ageratum conyzoides Verges near Knuckles [Low herb like hemp- agrimony with very pale blue, globular heads] Flossflower N Ageratum houstonianum Kadugannewa station and Hakgala botanic garden [Taller than latter, mid-blue (parent of fluffy-flowered bedding plant)] Sudana Anaphalis brevifolia Abundant in tussock grassland on Horton Plains [Much-branched woolly everlasting with clusters of white heads] Maha-sudana Anaphalis subdecurrens Scarcer on bare ground on Horton Plains [Like latter, but branching mainly from base with pink heads] (a mugwort N) Artemisia dubia var.grata Verges near Nuwara Eliya [Typical mugwort but very tall (2m): nodding tasselled inflorescence and well-cut leaves with linear oblong lobes] The only species in the flora. (no common name) Astroeupatorium inulifolium Locally common {a bur-marigold} {Bidens sp} Gardens in Kandy [Like next but yellow rays] Black-jack N Bidens pilosa Moist verges over the Knuckles, Kadugannewa station and Hakgala botanic garden [Small white daisy-like heads with yellow centre, opposite pinnate leaves] (a knapweed N) Centaurea sp? Paddy banks near Koggala [Resembles typical purple-red knapweed with lanceolate serrate leaves] (no common name) Centratherum punctatum Koggala Common Floss Flower Chromolaena odorata Widespread Canadian Fleabane N Conyza canadensis Weed in Hakgala botanic garden [Tall: many narrow oblong leaves, many tiny white daisies] {a tickseed} {Coreopsis sp} Peradeniya gardens [Popular orange-yellow daisy-like bedding plant; opposite pinnately cut leaves] {Mexican Aster} {Cosmos bipinnatus} Gardens in Kandy [Popular bedding Cosmos with pink-purple rays and opposite 2-3 pinnate leaves] {a cosmos} {Cosmos sulphurous} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [From last by orange rays] (no common name) Crassocephalum crepidioides Scattered records {German-ivy} {Delairea odorata} Hakgala botanic garden [Climber with ivy-like leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers] (no common name) Emilia alstonii Possibly this species too Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 48

(no common name) Emilia exserta Margins near Ahangama and Sinharaja [Similar to next but more weedy and not so purple- flushed] (no common name) Emilia sonchifolia Scattered records Kadupara Emilia zeylanica Rocky verges near Nuwara Eliya and on Horton Plains [Endemic: like small elegant purple- flushed sow-thistle with terminal pink nodding heads] Mexican Fleabane N Erigeron karvinskianus Rocky verges near the Knuckles, on Horton Plains and Hakgala botanic gardens [Branched herb whose white daisy flowers go pink with age] Podisingomaran Eupatorium odoratum Marginal weed: tea plantation near Nuwara Eliya and Sinharaja [Fluffy pale lavender weed] Shaggy Soldier N Galinsoga quadriradiata Weed in Hakgala botanic garden [Opposite- leaved hairy herb with many tiny few-rayed white daisies] (a cudweed) Gnaphalium sp Verge on Horton Plains zigzag and weed in Hakgala botanic garden [Typical coarse spicate cudweed (like G. sylvaticum or G. undulatum)] (an everlasting) Helichrysum sp Verges of road to Horton Plains [Tall non-tufted, whitish stems, linear leaves, clustered small golden globular heads] Common Cat’s-ear N Hypochaeris radicata Verges on Horton Plains [Yellow dandelion-like heads at end of branched scaly stems; basal rosette] Mile-a-Minute Mikania cordata Scattered records (no common name) Moonia heterophylla Verges on Horton Plains zigzag [Herb: opposite pinnately-cut triangular leaves and yellow daisies] {Cape daisy} {Osteospermum ecklonis} Nuwara Eliya gardens [Woody lower stem; big white-flowered daisy (ligules purple/mauve below) - popular patio plant in UK] {no common name} {Pseudogynoxys chenopodioides} Koggala gardens [Climber with orange daisy heads] (a ragwort) Senecio sp. Bogs on Horton Plain [Like dwarf, very neat Marsh Ragwort – yellow daisy-like heads] {Canadian Goldenrod} {Solidago canadensis} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Familiar tall perennial: many narrow leaves and numerous tiny yellow heads] Smooth Sow-thistle N Sonchus oleraceus Weed in Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya) [Annual: milky sap, and many yellow dandelion-like heads] (a toothache plant N) Spilanthes indicus Dry paddyfield bank south of Mahiyangana [Low creeping herb, resembling pink-purple clover] Nodeweed N Synedrella nodiflora Widespread [Herb with small yellow flowers] Dandelion N Taraxacum officinale s.l. Lawns in Hakgala botanic garden [Familiar weed with jagged toothed basal leaves and yellow heads]

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Wild Sunflower N Tithonia diversifolia Roadsides: Kandy, Lankatilake, Nuwara Eliya [Shrub: big yellow daisy-like flowers and 3-5 lobed leaves] Coat-buttons Tridax procumbens Weed with white notched ray petals. Kobo mella Vernonia arborea Scrub by zigzag up to Horton Plains and by track through Sinharaja NP [Small tree: long lanceolate leaves and white clustered heads] (a vernonia) Vernonia cinerea Common roadside weed [Pale lilac ageratum- like herb with woody base] (a vernonia) Vernonia hookeriana Surely present too. Endemic. (a vernonia) Vernonia wightiana Horton Plains Pupula Vernonia zeylanica Verges: New Rest House. Lankatilake, abundant near Nanu Oya, Horton Plains, Tissamaharama tank and dunes by Yala Safari Game Lodge [Endemic: Clambering under-shrub with whitish lilac heads] (no common name N) Wedelia trilobata Moist turf by tracks: widespread [Clambering herb, opposite 3-lobed leaf, yellow daisies] Rough Cocklebur Xanthium strumarium Shores of Tissamaharama tank. Also Sorabora 2009. [Coarse herb: angled ovate leaves and oval bur-fruit]

Balsaminaceae {a balsam} {Impatiens balsamina} Gardens in Kandy [Tall pink leafy herb: parent of the garden Indian balsam] Wal-kudalu? Impatiens cuspidata? Wet moss by trickle on Horton Plains zigzag [Possible identity of tiny delicate long-spurred pink balsam] Koodalu-mai Impatiens flaccida? Streamside rocks, Sinharaja Research Station [Slender pink succulent herb (60cm) (lateral petals united] (a balsam) Impatiens leptopoda Common on Horton Plains [Endemic: Low pink butterfly-like flowers 2-3cm (two lateral petals united)] Gas-kudalu Impatiens macrophylla Moist banks by Horton Plains zigzag [Tall balsam: large leaves, red stems and small orange flowers] {Gal-demata} {Impatiens repens} Peradeniya botanic garden [Trailing herb: succulent red stems, roundish leaves and yellow herbs] Endemic, but may be extinct in the wild.

Begoniaceae {a begonia} {Begonia axel-langei?} Gardens in Kandy [Tall herbaceous begonia with large leaves] Gal-aebala Begonia cordifolia Sorabora [Typical low white begonia, roundish asymmetric leaves] {a begonia} {Begonia fuchsioides} Hakgala botanic garden [Erect herbaceous begonia with pendent red flowers]

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Berberidaceae (a barberry) Berberis ceylanica Edges of elfin forest on Horton Plains [Typical yellow barberry: ovate leaves with distant attenuate teeth]

Bignoniaceae {Garlic Vine} {Adenocalymma alliaceum} Gardens in Kandy [Climber with masses of pink-mauve flowers, leaves smell strongly of garlic] {no common name} {Clystosoma callistegiodes} Gardens in Unawatuna [White climber] {Jacaranda} {Jacaranda mimosifolia} Roadside tree in Colombo [Leaves like mimosa: flat oblong fruit (no flowers during visit – purple)] {no common name} {Podranea ricasoliana} Gardens in Kandy [Vigorous evergreen climber: pink tubular flowers with darker throat] {Golden Shower} {Pyrostegia venusta} Shrouding tree at Grand Ella Motel [Climber with masses of clusters of orange/red tubular flowers] {African Tulip-tree} {Spathodea campanulata} Planted around Kandy [Tree with pinnate leaves & clusters of large bright orange-red flowers] {Yellow Tabebuia} {Tabebuia serratifolia} Peradeniya botanic garden [Leafless tree during visit: clusters of bright yellow trumpet flowers (leaves are palmate with stalked, toothed leaflets] {Chinese Trumpet- {Tecoma grandiflora} Gardens [Vigorous climber: pale pink trumpets with creeper} deeper stripes in the throat] Yellow Elder N Tecoma stans Margins: Mahiyangana, Sinharaja [Small tree: pinnate leaves, clustered orange or yellow tubular flowers]

Bombaceae Red Silk Cotton Tree Bombax ceiba Planted in south-west {Kapok Tree} {Ceiba pentandra} Planted in Kandy [Tree with palmate leaves, and long pods containing kapok fibre] {Paina de seda} {Chorisia speciosa} Planted on roadsides [Similar to latter] Kata boda Cullenia ceylanica Sinharaja canopy [Endemic tree: narrow alternate elliptic–oblong leaves: dark green above, golden scaly below, petioles swollen at apex; globular spiny fruit] Kata boda Cullenia rosayroana Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic tree: very similar to last but petioles (leaf-stalks) not swollen at tip]

Boraginaceae Naruvilli Cordia monoica Scrub in Yala NP [Small tree: alternate ovate leaves, rough hairy above and bright yellow berry-like fruit] a hound’s-tongue) Cynoglossum furcatum Lake Gregory, Nuwara Eliya [Tall hairy herb smelling of mice; flowers like blue forget-me- not] Eth-hoda Heliotropium indicum Disturbed margins in Bundala NP, and Sorabora [Annual with rough ovate leaves and pale lilac curving double spikes] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 51

Brassicaceae (formerly known as Cruciferae) Charlock N Sinapis arvensis Weed in Nuwara Eliya [Familiar wild mustard: four yellow petals, rough toothed leaves and long pods]

Buddlejaceae Butterfly Bush N Buddleja davidii By railway near Talawakele and Nuwara Eliya [Familiar shrub: long lilac-purple spikes and lanceolate opposite leaves] (a Buddleja N) Buddleja madagascariensis Verges below Hakgala botanic garden [From last by oblique panicles, corolla has grey green tubes and orange yellow lobes]

Burseraceae Kekuna Canarium zeylanicum Sinharaja forest edge [Endemic tree: alternate pinnate leaves (ca 7 untoothed leaflets) and twigs rusty hairy]

Cactaceae Katu-pathok N Opuntia dillenii Rough sandy ground in Yala and Bundala NPs [Stout yellow-flowered cactus made up of flattened jointed stems] (a cactus N) Rhipsalis baccifera Epiphytic on street trees in Kandy and in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens [Grey-green succulent with narrow pipe-like stems]

Callitrichaceae (a water-starwort) Callitriche sp Pools in Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya) and Hakgala botanic gardens [Aquatic with opposite elliptical notched leaves; tiny flowers]

Campanulaceae “Star of Bethlehem” N Laurentia longifolia By gate into Upper Water Catchment [Low herb with white star flower (4cm tube)and thistle-like leaves] (a lobelia) Lobelia leschenaultiana In flower around Lake Gregory, Nuwara Eliya, 2012 Wal-dumkola Lobelia nicotianifolia Rail cutting toward Nanu Oya [Tall (1-2m) herb with “foxtail” pale pink flower-spike, and linear stipules] (no common name) Pratia sp Elfin forest, World’s End (Horton Plains) [Creeping, low, whitish Lobelia-like herb; ovate toothed leaves] (a bellflower) Wahlenbergia marginata Moist patana on Horton Plains [Low, delicate, erect pale-blue and like a campanula]

Cannabidaceae Indian Hemp N Cannabis sativa Roadside weed near Kandy and Nuwara Eliya [Tall annual with palmate cut leaves]

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Capparidaceae (a spider-flower) Cleome rutidosperma Sorabora [Typical yellow Cleome: palmate leaves, open spike of tiny 4-petalled flowers (slightly irregular) and long pods] (a spider-flower N) Cleome spinosa Embekke Devale [Like showy garden Spider- flower] Lunu warana Crataeva adansonii Scrub in Yala NP (including Sithulpahuwa temple road [Small tree: alternate long-stalked trefoil leaves (leaflets elliptical), twigs leaf- scarred and greenish-white flowers] Vela Gynandropsis gynandra Banks at Sorabora, Tissamaharama and wasteland at Galle [From yellow Cleome by white or pinkish flowers]

Caprifoliaceae (a honeysuckle N) Lonicera confusa Verges near Kande Ela reservoir [Typical honeysuckle woody scrambler with fragrant white or gold flowers] {Himalayan Elder} {Sambucus hookeri} Planted: gardens of Hotel Suisse and around Nuwara Eliya [Typical elder but taller, with slender leaflets and less flattened heads] Common Elder N Sambucus nigra Verges near Nuwara Eliya? [Familiar shrub: pinnate, creamy flat heads (yellowish-white anthers) forming black fruit]

Caricaceae {Papaya or Papaw} {Carica papaya} Commonly planted on verges and in gardens {Like “woody Brussel-sprout” – small unbranched tree with big terminal palmately- lobed leaves and big orange fruit on upper stem]

Casuarinaceae {Casuraina} {Casuarina equisetifolia} Planted by Kandy lake etc. [Tree: drooping green twigs and scale-like leaves]

Celastraceae Pelan Bhesa ceylanica Sinharaja forest [Endemic tree: alternate oval leaves with acute often twisted tips and curved veins]

Chenopodiaceae (a seablite) Suaeda sp? Muddy lagoon shores in Yala and Bundala NPs [Prostrate subshrub with fleshy linear leaves]

Clusiaceae (formerly known as Guttiferae) Walu kina Calophyllum bracteatum Sinharaja streamside subcanopy [Endemic tree: opposite narrow oblong leaves flushed white, limp and pendulous] Batu kina Calophyllum thwaitesii Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic tree: from last by obovate leaves. May be identical to C. trapezifolium]

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Kina Calophyllum walkeri Locally abundant in elfin forest of Horton Plains [Endemic: gnarled tree with opposite obovate leaves, young foliage clusters bright red, looking like flowers] (no common name) N Clusia major Upper Water Catchment (Kandy) [Under-storey sprawling shrub: opposite very leathery, untoothed leaves with latex] Madol Garcinia hermonii Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic tree: opposite lanceolate leaves with 50-60 pairs of lateral veins; fruit a green berry with soft spines] (a St John’s-wort) Hypericum japonicum Wet turf on Horton Plains [Typical slender herbaceous Hypericum: tiny 5-petalled yellow flowers and leaves with citric aroma when crushed. Plant in marsh near gate may be distinct in its wavy edged leaves] Mysore St John’s-wort Hypericum mysorense Pantanas of and verges below Horton Plains [1- 2m shrub with crowded opposite 4-ranked tough leaves and 6cm bright yellow flowers. Resembles H. revolutum of E. African mountains] Na Mesua ferrea Rain forest subcanopy: Udawattakele and Sinharaja [Endemic tree: red-flushed opposite drooping leaves] Ceylon Ironwood Mesua nagassarium Stream valleys at Sinharaja [From latter by narrower leaflets and trunk with buttresses. The national tree]

Combretaceae Beriya Lumnitzera racemosa Mangrove swamps, Koggala lake [Shrub: spathulate leaves (crenate-toothed); spike of small white flowers] {Rangoon Creeper} {Quisqualis indica} By entrance to Grand Ella Motel [Climbing shrub: fragrant flowers are red in bud, white when pen and fade to crimson – the leaves are variable too!] Kumbuk Terminalia arjuna Banks of Tissamaharama tank [Large tree: opposite oblong leaves; ovoid fibrous fruit with five wings] Indian Almond N Terminalia catappa Widespread and common [Distinctive arrangement of layered branches and terminally clustered leathery obovate leaves]

Convolvulaceae Giritilla Argyreia populifolia Verges near New Rest House, Bundala and Sinharaja NP (pink-purple in last) [Like creamy morning glory with purple throat and heart- shaped leaves] (no common name) Erycibe paniculata Koggala 2012 Vishnu-kanthi Evovulus alsinoides Victoria Radenigala [Prostrate, but not twining with faded blue flowers] (a morning-glory) Ipomoea sp Banks by paddies near Ahangama [Small pink trumpet –climber with neat sagittate leaves]

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Railway Creeper N Ipomoea cairica Waste land and railway banks near Kandy [Twiner with 5-lobed leaves and purple flowers 4-5cm across] Pink Morning Glory N Ipomoea carnea Scrub in Bundala NP [Non-climbing shrub: cordate leaves (wavy edges) and 8-10cm pink trumpets] (a morning-glory) Ipomoea coccinea Victoria Radenigala 2012 Morning Glory N Ipomoea indica (I. learii) Verges (road and rail): Kandy and near Nanu Oya [Vigorous purple-blue bindweed with 9cm flowers] Sea Morning Glory Ipomoea pes-caprae Beach sands at Yala and Unawatuna (where also abundant in fallow fields and quarry) [Purple- pink trumpets 3-6cm and distinctive “goat’s- foot” leaves] (a morning-glory N) Ipomoea quamoclit Fence at Unawatuna [Red-flowered twiner, with finely -lobed foliage] African Morningvine Merremia tridentata Koggala 2012 Kiri-madu Merremia umbellata Shrouding bushes on road to Horton Plains [Climber: narrow triangular leaves; white funnel-like flowers with spreading lobes and two narrow bracteoles]

Crassulaceae {a kalanchoë} {Kalanchoë angustifolia} Hakgala botanic garden [Similar to next two species but with narrower leaves] {a kalanchoë} {Kalanchoë blossfeldiana} Ornamental: Kandy [Popular pot succulent pot in UK] Akkapanna Kalanchoë pinnata Lankatilake banks [Toothed opposite-leaved succulent with spikes of pink pendulous tubular flowers]

Cucurbitaceae [Note: other cucurbits seen included slender cream-flowered species with hastate leaves like orache (by path on Horton Plains)] Kowakka Coccinea grandis Coastal scrub in Yala NP [Climber: 5-lobed leaves and white bell-like flowers, also with 5 lobes] (a gourd) Momordica sp? Lankatilake verges [Low clamberer with tiny yellow flowers] Common Fringed- Trichosanthes cucumerina Yala, where one with much deeper fringed flower vine flowers than is usual, a different species?

Cuscutaceae (a dodder) Cuscuta sp Bank, Tissamaharama tank [Parasite comprising wiry twining yellow stems and dense heads of tiny flowers]

Dichapetalaceae Balu nakuta Dichapetalum gelonoides Rain forest understorey: Udawattakele [Shrub: pointed lanceolate leaves, clusters of tiny green flowers]

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Dilleniaceae (no common name) Acrotrema sp. Rosettes of leaves with pink flowers. One of several endemic species. Hondapara Dillenia indica Disturbed tracksides in Sinharaja [Similar to next but with sharp toothed leaves and white flowers] Para-satumal N Dillenia suffruticosa Verges near Kandy, Koggala & Kolapitya [Small tree: big alternate leathery leaves; 10-15cm yellow flowers, petals crinkly and globose fruit with spreading ] Kekiri wara Schumacheria castaneifolia Sinharaja forest edge [Endemic small tree: leaves large and toothed (chestnut-like); flowers stalkless and yellow in terminal panicles]

Dipterocarpaceae [Note: Dipterocarps are large forest trees with alternate simple untoothed leaves. The distinctive fruit that gives the family its name is a dry nut, usually with wings (a little like sycamore fruit). Dipterocarpus spp have 2 long and 3 short wings; Shorea spp have 3 long and 2 short wings (all twisted); and Vateria has no wings]. Bu hora Dipterocarpus hispidus Lower Sinharaja forest. Kottawa 2012. [Endemic large tree: from next by softer leaves with 14-20 pairs of veins, dense golden-brown hairs beneath] Hora Dipterocarpus zeylanicus Sinharaja forest edge [Endemic tree: large leathery leaves and 15-18 pairs of lateral veins] Beraliya dun Shorea affinis Sinharaja forest canopy on ridges [Endemic tree: low concave buttresses; leaves with revolute margins and purplish-pink flush (9 pairs of lateral veins)] Tiniya Shorea congestiflora Sinharaja forest canopy on deep soil [Endemic big tree with thin low buttresses: narrow elliptic leaves, long acuminate (11-15 lateral pairs of veins)] Beraliya Shorea disticha Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic big tree: long ovate oblong leaves (8-11 pairs of lateral veins)] Honda beraliya Shorea megistophylla Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic tree: often with buttresses and oblong-elliptic leaves (often flushed red), acuminate and 13-18 pairs of lateral veins] Nawada Shorea stipularis Sinharaja forest canopy (including the “big tree” with platform) [Endemic tree (huge) with low rounded buttresses: broad oblong-ovate leaves (14-17 pairs of veins) and big persistent ovate stipules] Tiniya dun Shorea trapezifolia Sinharaja forest canopy (especially on deep soils) [Endemic tree with prominent buttresses: lanceolate leaves (11-14 vein pairs)] Beraliya Shorea wothingtonii Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic tree: buttresses rounded and small elliptic dark green leaves, margins slightly rolled over and 6-9 pairs of lateral veins] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 56

Hal Vateria copallifera Sinharaja forest canopy [Endemic large tree: leathery oblong leaves (knee-bent stalk), woolly twigs]

Droseraceae (a sundew) Drosera burmannii Boggy slope on Horton Plains [Typical small sundew with all leaves basal] N:B: Should this be Drosera burmanni ? Kadulessa Drosera peltata Not found on Horton Plains 2012 [Bigger with long petioled leaves up stem]

Ebenaceae Porawa Mara insignis Sinharaja forest understorey. Kottawa 2012. [Small tree: alternate ovate-elliptic leaves; bark peeling in large thin flakes (black with brown beneath)]

Elaeaocarpaceae Gal weralu Elaeocarpus subvillosus Sinharaja forest subcanopy [Tree: alternate oval leaves, hairy beneath (bronze when young) and fruit like olives (ginger tomentose when young)]

Ericaceae Wal kapuru Gaultheria rudis Shrubby slopes around Horton Plains, not in flower 2012 [Small shrub: leathery lanceolate leaves (serrate and aromatic), sprays of silver- white globose drooping flowers] Maha Rathmal Rhododendron arboreum Forest edges and wet areas Horton Plains [Typical large rhododendron with red flowers. Endemic subspecies (or var) zeylanicum] (a bilberry) Vaccinium sp Patana near World’s End (Horton Plains) [Low shrub: obovate leaves and white urn-shaped flowers. Rather like V. symplocifolium (see Sumithrarachchi et al.) but this is described as a tree]

Euphorbiaceae {Red-hot Cat’s-tail} {Acalypha hispida} Gardens in Kandy [Shrub with oval-oblong toothed leaves and long red velvety drooping flower-spikes] {Acalypha} {Acalypha wilkesiana} Gardens in Colombo and Kandy [From last by spikes brownish and inconspicuous; leaves big (scalloped edge), often variegated red-bronze- green or green and cream (aurea variegata)] (no common name N) Andrachne telephioides? Lankatilake temple [Low herb with whorl of branches below which are fruit like tiny apples] Hin kebella Aporusa lanceolata Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic small tree: oblong-lanceolate leaves with long acuminate tip and spikes of tiny yellow flowers] {no common name} {Breynia disticha} Gardens in Kandy [Shrub with 2-ranked leaves: form with pink variegated oval leaves i.e. ‘Roseo- picta’] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 57

Wal murunga Breynia retusa Sithulpahuwa temple road (Yala NP) [Shrub: 2- ranked oval fragrant leaves; 3-lobed fruit resembling grey and yellow eggs surrounded by frilly pastry case] Pat kela Bridelia moonii Forest margins in Sinharaja [Endemic tree: numerous oblong-oval leaves, white beneath; young twigs have dense rusty hairs; spicate green flower clusters] Gal hedawaka Chaetocarpus castanocarpus Sinharaja forest subcanopy [Tree with alternate ovate leaves and bright red fruit densely covered in prickles] {Croton} {Codiaeum variegatum} Hedges and gardens in Colombo and Kandy [Shrub: leaves whorled toward end of branches and brilliantly coloured red-pink-yellow-orange- bronze and green] Wira Drypetes sepiaria Sithulpahuwa temple road [Small tree: alternate broad oval-oblong leaves with notched apex; gnarled trunk] Daluk Euphorbia antiquorum Drier slopes near the Knuckles and in Yala NP [Cactus-like tree, candelabra-branched, triangular-stemmed succulent] (a spurge) Euphorbia heterophylla Scattered records. (a spurge) Euphorbia hirta Scattered records. (a spurge) Euphorbia maculata Possibly this species Peradineya Junction. {a spurge} {Euphorbia millii} Hakgala botanic garden etc. [Spiky subshrub with bright red flowers] Poinsettia N Euphorbia pulcherrima {Planted in Kandy etc}; maybe same species (pale bracts) wild at Lankatilake and Boulder Garden and in tea-estates [Popular house plant] (a spurge) Euphorbia rothiana Prolific near World’s End [Patch-forming tall herb with lanceolate leaves and somewhat yellow-flushed bracts] Nawahandi Euphorbia tirucalli Scrub in Bundala NP [Scrambling shrub with green cylindrical stems and tiny leaves that fall easily] Hin katu pila Flueggea leucopyrus Yala NP scrub: on back road into park and main body of NP [Low thorny shrub with blunt obovate leaves and many white berries] Bu Kenda indica Scrubby forest fringes east of Kandy [Small tree with large ovate-orbicular leaves (peltate i.e. stalked from plane surface, not at edge)] Kenda Macaranga peltata With latter above Kandy and in rainforest gaps at Sinharaja [Differs in its warty fruit] Bu Kenda Pioneer at Sinharaja [Small tree: numerous leaves, rhomboidal long-stalked, silver-green below with pair of large glands near base] {Slipper Flower} {Pedilanthes tithymaloides} Gardens: Kandy & Unawatuna (variegata) [Succulent zigzag branching bush: oval leaves with white latex; asymmetric long pink flowers in clusters of 6-7]

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Castor Oil Plant N Ricinus communis Verges near Colombo, east of Kandy and around Nuwara Eliya [Shrub: palmate-lobed leaves and spikes of spiny fruits]

Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae) {no common name} {Bauhinia acuminata} Planted roadside shrub between Colombo and Kandy [Evergreen, neat white flowers and 2- lobed leaves] {no common name} {Bauhinia divaricata} Street tree in Kandy [Small evergreen tree: clustered flowers, narrow white petals, turning pink with age] {no common name} {Bauhina purpurea} Roadsides: Ella to Yala [Medium tree: typical Bauhnia leaves and purple flowers] Maila Bauhinia racemosa Scrub at Sorabora and north-west Yala NP [Similar to B. acuminata but flower yellow-white] {Orchis tree} {Bauhinia variegata} Peradeniya botanic gardens [Medium tree, deeply 2-lobed leaves; 8cm pink-purple flowers, long pods] {Paradise Flower} {Caesalpinia pulcherrima} Planted near New Resthouse, Mahiyangana [Small tree: bipinnate leaves, lax flowerhead (golden or red) fragrant with long stamens] Indian Laburnum Cassia fistula Verges in Randenigala Reserve and Yala NP [Popular yellow Cassia (small tree) with drooping racemes] Red Cassia Cassia roxburghii Sithulpahuwa temple road [Typical cassia tree but with pink or salmon racemes] {Flamboyant} {Delonix regia} Roadsides etc on Knuckles and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens [Tree with bipinnate leaves and showy orange-red flowers] Ashoka Tree Saraca asoca Scattered records. Candle Bush N Senna alata Verges near Peradeniya, Tissamaharama and Boulder Garden [Low shrub: erect yellow racemes of closely overlapping flowers; firm-ribbed pinnate leaves] Ranawara Senna auriculata Scrub in Yala NP [Typical shrubby cassia, but with very large persistent ear-shaped stipules and clusters of large bright yellow flowers] (a candle bush N) Senna didymobotrya Verges near Kandy and on route to Nanu Oya [Like S. alata, but the erect spikes have brown black scales] (a cassia N) Sennaa mimosoides Waste ground etc [Slender prostrate to ascending herb: fine pinnate foliage; solitary (-3) yellow flowers] Coffee Senna Senna occidentalis Recorded Siam Cassia Senna siamea Verges in Randenigala Reserve [Differs from next in dark brown pods and flowers not markedly fragrant] Yellow Cassia N Senna spectabilis Verges near houses above Kandy [Pinnate (ca 10 pairs of leaflet) small tree with racemes of fragrant yellow flowers and black pods]

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Tamarind N Tamarindus indica By main tracks in Yala NP [Tall pinnate tree with bark fissured an d thick rough brown pods]

Fabaceae () {Crab’s Eyes} {Abrus precatorius} Gardens: Kandy and Koggala [Small pink peaflowers, forming red seeds with black tips] (a peaflower) Aeschynomene indica Koggala area [Erect emergent aquatic herb: 1- pinnate leaves, numerous crowded leaflets and yellow flowers.] {Pride of Burma} {Amherstia nobilis} Avenue by Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, in splendid flower [Deservedly called the “Queen of flowering trees”, 1m pendulous racemes of vermilion and yellow flowers] Greater Sea-bean Canavalia obtusifolia Sea shore, Yala [Prostrate with purple pea- flowers] A butterfly-pea Centrosema pubescens Recorded Butterfly-pea Clitoria ternatea Scrub edges near New Rest House, Lankatilake and Yala NP etc. [Climbing pea with large upside down flowers (white, lilac or violet)] Rattle-box Crotalaria laburnifolia Scattered records. [Similar to next two species, but a 2m shrub, yellow flowers with greenish keels] Andanaheeriya Crotalaria micans Sea shore Yala NP and scrub in Bundala NP [Typical yellow Crotalaria, decumbent; trefoil leaves have narrow leaflets] Andanaheeriya Crotalaria pallida? Road verges near Mahiyangana [Low shrub: trefoil leaves and long spikes of yellow peaflowers] (no common name) Crotalaria retusa? Embekke Devale – bank near paddy field and wood-carver [Similar to last] Blue Andana Crotalaria verrucosa Sorabora [Purple-veined white herb with “rattlebox” pods] Andanaheeriya Crotalaria walkeri Verges onto Horton Plains and elfin forest edges [3m tall shrub: long spikes of yellow pea-like flowers] (no common name} Derris trifoliata? Koggala lake [Pink climber with trefoil leaves] Asian tick-trefoil Desmodium heterocarpon Widespread [Trifoliate leaves with large end leaflet, dense heads of pink flowers] Creeping Tick-trefoil Desmodium triflorum Peradineya lawns. (tick-trefoils) Desmodium spp Verges in Unawatuna [Slender herbs: trefoil (ovate leaflets), slender pink-purple (parti- coloured) spikes; segmented pods with numerous clinging hooks. Frequent in Sri Lanka, several spp probably present] December Tree Erythrina subumbrans By tea-estates near Nanu Oya [From E. variegata by crimson flowers with purple keel] Dadap Erythrina variegata? Upper Water Catchment forest (Kandy) [Tree with trefoil leaves and crowded scarlet-winged flowers]

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Weta hiriya N Gliricidia sepium Widespread [Tree: pinnate leaves and showy white to purplish racemes] (an indigo) Indigofera astragalina? (hirsuta) Verges: Randenigala Reserve & Bundala NP [Possible identity of hairy annual, purple spikes; obovate wrinkly leaves – undivided and round stipules] Val-avari Indigofera subulata Scrambling over bushes in Yala NP [Spikes of purplish peaflowers; pinnate leaves] (a bean N) Macroptilium lathyroides Verges in northwest Yala NP [Large climbing vetch with brick-red peaflowers] Balsam of Tolu N Myroxylon balsamum Pathside at Udawattakele [Shrub: leaves with aromatic translucent dots] Shamrock Pea Parochetus communis Horton Plains visitor centre Yellow Flame-tree Peltophorum pterocarpum Sinharaja track edge [Tree: bipinnate, leaves feathery with crowded leaflets; twigs rusty hairy; rusty-yellow showy flowers; fruit like crimson mange-tout] (a bean N?) Phaseolus sp Verges: Lankatilake and Sinharaja [Pink spiked trefoil climber like a runner bean] Kathuru murunga {Sesbania grandiflora} Widespread [Small tree: pinnate leaves (no terminal leaflet), white-flowered curry shrub] Gorse N Ulex europaeus Verges in Nuwara Eliya and forming thickets on Horton Plains [Familiar shrub: branched spines and yellow flowers]

Fabaceae (Mimosoideae) Cockspur Thorn Acacia eburnea Dry scrub in Yala NP [From A. planifrons by 1- 6cm silver-white thorns and yellow globose heads] {Babboola} {Acacia nilotica?} Planted in the coastal zone [Similar to last with dense yellow globular heads: not enough for sure identity] Umbrella Thorn Acacia planifrons Abundant in scrub in Yala and Bundala NPs [Thorny shrub: small bipinnate leaves and long- stalked creamy flower-heads] {Jumble Bead} {Adenanthera pavonina} Planted on Kandy roadsides [Small tree with bipinnate leaves; coiled pods with scarlet seeds] {Lebbek} { lebbeck} Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya) [Bipinnate small tree: creamy fragrant brush-like head] Ceylon Rosewood Albizia odoratissima Recorded {Powder-puff Plant} {Calliandra surinamensis} By railway, Kandy-Nuwara Eliya [Shrub: with puffs of pink stamens (no petals), pinnate leaves in pairs] (no common name N) Desmanthus virgatus Roadside weed: Kadugannewa station and Sinharaja [Like twiggy, prickly-stemmed Mimosa pudica] Andara Dichrostachys cinerea Scrub in Yala NP [Spiny bipinnate shrub: staminate heads pink (yellow at tip) and fading to white] Giant Sensitive Plant Mimosa invisa Scattered records

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Sensitive Plant N Mimosa pudica Moist verges near the Knuckles [Low herb: globular pink heads, pinnate leaves that collapse when touched] (a mesquite N) Prosopis inflata? Scrub in Bundala NP [Possibly this ±naturalised: almost leafless shrub with many long thorns] {Rain Tree} {Samanea saman} Debarara Wewa banks [Large bipinnate tree: similar to latter with brown or black flattened pods]

Gentianaceae (no common name) Crawfurdia championii Possibly this species on Horton Plains, 2009. Binara Exacum trinervium Wet patanas on Horton Plains, not in flower 2012 [Endemic: large herb with opposite leaves and 4-5cm purplish blue flowers with yellow eye. Subspecies macranthum] Sudu-binara Exacum walkeri Light shade in elfin wood, Little World’s End, much in flower in February (Horton Plains) [Endemic: from latter by white flowers] (a gentian) quadrifaria Marshes on Horton Plain [Tiny blue species with var.zeylanica folded perianth segments.] (no common name) Swertia zeylanica Horton Plains.

Geraniaceae (a crane’s-bill) Geranium nepalense Kande Ela reservoir 2012.

Gesneriaceae (no common name) Chirita augusta Wet rocks by stream, Sinharaja research station [Endemic: leaves narrowed above and below; stems bear 1-2 red-purple flowers, each 3.5cm long] (no common name) Didymocarpus humboldtianus? Wet rocks at higher levels near the Knuckles [Typical rosette gesneriad, with sprays of white flowers] {no common name} {Episcia cupreata?} Planted on rocks by gate into Sinharaja NP and also in gardens in Kandy [Ground cover gesneriad: variegated leaves, hairy; with single red flowers] {no common name} {Kohleria hirsuta} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Herb resembles red balsam, but leaves and flowers are densely hairy] (a Cape primrose N) Streptocarpus sp? On wet rocks by Rawana Ella falls {Planted in Hakgala botanic garden} [Rosette gesneriad with pink -purple flowers. Not S. saxosa]

Goodeniaceae Takkada Scaevola sericea Scrub near coast in Yala NP [Shrub with alternate obovate leaves: distinctive white fan- shaped flowers]

Haloragaceae (a water-milfoil) Myriophyllum sp Debarara Wewa tank [Submerged aquatic herb with whorls of pinnate leaves (linear leaflets)] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 62

Hydrangeaceae {Hydrangea} {Hydrangea macrophylla} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Familiar garden hydrangea: dense globular flowerheads with big sterile flowers]

Lamiaceae (formerly known as Labiatae) {a coleus} {Coleus blumei} Forming avenue at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens [Familiar ornamental: brightly-coloured leaves] {a coleus} {Coleus canaliensis} Gardens in Koggala and Galle [Similar to last] (a coleus) Coleus inflatus Elfin forest, Baker’s Falls (Horton Plains) and Sinharaja forest [Endemic: 1m tall perennial: big leaves, winged stem; purple flowers (reddish stalks)] Knobweed! N Hyptis capitata Lunuganga 2009 [white flowers in stalked globular heads] Maha-yakwanassa Leonotis nepetaefolia Rough dry grass in Kandy [Tall herb: dense whorls of orange flowers becoming dry spherical fruit clusters] (no common name) Leucas zeylanica Lagoon shore in Yala NP, etc, widespread [White, like horehound but with markedly bigger low lip] American Basil Ocimum americanum Scattered records 2012. Holy Basil Ocimum sanctum Verges in Randenigala Reserve etc. [Familiar aromatic blue-purple branched herb] Cat’s Whiskers Orthosiphon aristatus Sorabora. (no common name) Plectranthus grandis Common on roadsides around Nuwara Eliya [Shrub with spikes of blue flowers] Red Sage N Salvia splendens Naturalised on verges east of Kandy (also cultivated) [Popular summer bedding plant – red tubular flowers]

Lauraceae Elephant Ears Actinodaphne speciosa Horton Plains elfin woods [Endemic tree: leaves large and roundish in 2s and 3s with pointed tip and red-brown woolly beneath] Love Vine Cassytha filiformis Koggala 2012 Wal kurundu Cinnamomum dubium Forest edges in Sinharaja [Endemic tree: from next by young twigs being finely hairy] Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum Scattered records [Native in Sri Lanka, mainly seen in cultivation: tree with opposite aromatic leaves, 3-5 parallel veins and dense network; reddish bark] (various names) Litsea spp Horton Plains elfin woods [Several tree spp occur in canopy (some endemic): alternate untoothed leaves. L. longifolia probably seen on edge at Sinharaja] Kudu dawula Neolitsea fuscata? Horton Plains elfin forest [Endemic tree: alternate lanceolate leaves, white tomentose beneath] Ululu Persea macrantha By lake at Sorabora [Tree with oblong-oval leaves, asymmetric base and whitish beneath] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 63

Lecythidaceae {Fish-poison tree} {Barringtonia asiatica} Planted in Koggala Beach hotel [Big tree, native on Sri Lanka: large oblong terminally crowded leaves and 12cm flowers with massed stamens, open overnight] {Cannonball Tree} {Couroupita guianensis} Planted by Kandy lake and in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, in flower and fruit [Big tree: terminally-crowded ovate leaves, 5-petalled whitish-pink flowers on trunk turning large brown spherical fruit]

Lentibuliariaceae (a bladderwort) Utricularia ?caerulea Waterlogged moss in Lake Gregory bog [Typical bladderwort: feathery submerged leaves bearing bladders; flowers spurred, lilac and tiny] (a bladderwort) Utricularia sp. Paddies near Ahangama [Larger than last with bigger yellow flowers (resembles U. intermedia)] (a bladderwort) Utricularia sp. Ponds at Lunuganga [Yellow flowered species, may be same as previous species]

Linaceae Bu-getiya Hugonia mystax Scrub in Yala NP [Privet-like shrub with 5- petalled yellow flowers]

Loranthaceae Pilila Dendrophthoë falcata On Ficus at Sorabora [Parasite with red curving tubular flowers]

Lythraceae {no common name} {Cuphea hyssopifolia} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Low shrub: small opposite leaves, little purple flowers (ornamental edging)] {no common name} {Cuphea ignea} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Sub-shrub whose orange cigar-like flowers have ‘ash’ ends] {Queen of Flowers} {Lagerstroemia speciosa} Planted on roadsides near Colombo and Kandy [Small tree: eucalyptus-like flaking bark and 2- ranked oval leaves; big rose-pink flowers (native in Sri Lanka)] Fire Bush Woodfordia fruticosa Victoria Radenigala 2012

Magnoliaceae Wal sapu Michelia nilagirica Planted or native at upper edge of Hakgala botanic garden [Tree: narrow yellow-tepalled magnolia]

Malpighiaceae {no common name} {Tristellateia australiasiae} Gardens in Unawatuna and Koggala [Climber: sprays of yellow flowers and bright orange stamens; the five petals are contracted at base to very narrow stalk]

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Malvaceae Wal-anoda Abutilon indicum Verges in Yala NP and near Debarara Wewa [Branched herb with velvety leaves and small yellow flowers, fruit like segmented pie] {no common name} {Anisodontea spp} Gardens in Koggala area [Subshrub with small pink mallow flowers] {Cotton} {Gossypium herbaceum} Recorded [Soft shrubby mallow with yellow flowers; fruit dehiscing to reveal cotton boll] {Hibiscus hybrids} {Hibiscus x } Numerous different coloured forms in gardens near Colombo and Kandy {a hibiscus} {Hibiscus calyphyllus} Gardens: Kandy [Evergreen bush: cordate or 3- lobed hairy leaves, solitary big yellow flowers (maroon centre)] Wal-wada Hibiscus eriocarpus Recorded [Small tree: pale pink or white flowers with deep purple centre; 3-lobed leaves] {Okra} {Hibiscus esculentus} Kadugannewa station [Erect herb: 8cm pale yellow flowers with maroon throat] Napiriththa Hibiscus furcatus Rough verges near the Knuckles, Unawatuna and Kalawana/Sinharaja [Vigorous scrambler, strongly hooked stems and yellow flowers with maroon eye] a hibiscus Hibiscus lobatus Victoria Radenigala Perumaddi Hibiscus micranthus Rough verges: Yala NP, Bundala, and Victoria Radenigala [Delicate shrub, small irregularly toothed leaves and 2cm white flowers] Rose of N Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ±naturalised by lanes at Unawatuna (some double flowers) {planted in Kandy} [Red evergreen shrubby mallow: prominent column of stigma and stamens] {Coral Hibiscus} {Hibiscus schizopetalus} Gardens in Kandy and by road through hills to east [Shrub with pendant flowers whose red petals are recurved and frilly with 15cm staminal tube] Belli patta Hibiscus tiliaceus Swamp in Wn. Yala NP and Koggala lake mangroves [Small tree: cordate leaves, palmately 9-11 veined; yellow flowers with crimson centre, fading to orange] Turk’s Cap N Malvaviscus arboreus Verges by road over Knuckles [Shrub: serrated leaves and red pendulous mallow flowers folded like umbrellas (aka M. penduliflorus)] a sida Sida cordata Sorabora (no common name) Sida spp Rough ground: New Rest House, World’s End, botanic garden at Hakgala and “back road” into Yala [Weedy herb: serrate-lanceolate leaves (Horton Plains plant broader) and 1-2cm apricot- yellow flowers] Suriya N Thespesia populnea Roadside tree near Bundala and Koggala lake [Leaves heart-shaped, shiny and palmately 7- veined; pale yellow flowers with purple centres]

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Patta-epala Urena lobata Unawatuna and Kalawana verges [Erect herb: small pink mallow, darker centres & fruit with hooked tips]

Martyniaceae Tiger’s Claw N Martynia annua Yala NP: verges in northwest and sandy waste in main NP [Coarse weed with big angled leaves, 3-4cm pink tubular flowers and fruit with two curved spines]

Melastomataceae Katakalu-bovitiya Clidemia hirta Common invasive weed: Lankatilake, Boulder Garden and Sinharaja [Typical hairy Melastomatacean herb, but small white flowers] Pini baru Lijndenia capitellata Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic shrub: leaves with 3 veined, flushed purple; small white flowers] Lantharum-mal Medinilla fuchsioides Elfin forest, Little World’s End, not in flower 2012 (Horton Plains) [Endemic: sprawling climber, thick glossy opposite leaves and small waxy reddish tubular flowers] {no common name} {Medinilla magnifica} Peradeniya botanic garden [Shrub with fabulous large dusty purple leaves that are strongly veined] Kora kaha Memecylon umbellatum Scrub in Yala NR, not in flower 2012 [Small tree: opposite oval blunt leaves and small umbels of brilliant blue flowers] (no common name) Memecylon varians? Forest edge near the Knuckles [Small tree with narrow elliptic leaves, sessile blue-white flowers] Ma bowitiya Melastoma malabathricum Galle area, and Koggala [Shrub: opposite leaves with 5 parallel veins and showy violet-mauve flowers and black soft fruit] Bowitiya Osbeckia aspera Sinharaja margins [Osbeckia spp resemble latter but have capsules; this species is 3-4m bushy shrub with 5cm mauve flowers (5-petalled), prickly capsule and 5-veined leaves] (no common name) Osbeckia lanata Horton Plains. Heen-bowitiya Osbeckia octandra Margins of forest around Sinharaja, etc. [As O. aspera, but smaller narrow rather privet-like leaves] Bowitiya Osbeckia parvifolia Verges on Horton Plains Bowitiya Osbeckia rubicunda Shrubby margins onto Horton Plains [As O. aspera but with smaller glossy deeply 3-veined leaves] (no common name) Osbeckia walkeri Horton Plains [Leaves pubescent on both sides] (no common name) Sonerila sp. Kottawa Forest Glory-bush Tibouchina urvilleana Near Nuwara Eliya, and Horton Plains. From . [Typical melastoma with large blue flowers]

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Meliaceae Margosa or Kohomba N Track edges in Yala NR and Tissamaharama or Neem tank [Tree: alternate pinnate leaves – no terminal leaflet, all other leaflets sickle-shaped with very unequal sides] {Honduran Mahogany} {Swietenia macrophylla} Peradeniya botanic garden [Tree: leaves similar to latter but ca 6 (not ca 12) leaflets; buttressed trunk]

Menispermaceae Weni wel Coscinium fenestratum Sinharaja forest margins [Round-leaved twining liane: tiny flower-clusters giving way to berries] Rasakinda Tinospora cordifolia? By railway near Nanu Oya and Grand Ella Motel [Climber: spikes of tiny unisexual greenish- yellow flowers and aerial roots]

Menyanthaceae Crested Snowflakes Nymphoides hydrophylla Yala area [Like tiny water-lily with white unfringed flowers] Water Snowflake Nymphoides indica Yala area [as above but flowers fringed]

Moraceae {Bread Fruit} {Artocarpus altilis} Planted near Kandy etc. [Tree with deeply pinnately-cut strong dark green leaves] Jak Fruit N Artocarpus heterophyllus Planted by roads in and near Kandy and ±naturalised at Udawattakele and Sinharaja [Tree with big elliptic leaves (6-10 pairs of veins) and huge fruit on trunk] Wal Del Artocarpus nobilis Forest in Upper Water Catchment (Kandy) and Sinharaja [Endemic: from last by big stiff strongly veined (10-13 pairs) strong green leaves, wavy edged] {Walu nuga} {Ficus benjamina} Peradeniya botanic garden (variegata form in Kandy) [Willow-leaved fig: horizontal branches with stilt roots. Evidently this (not F. benghalensis - banyan!] {Indiarubber Plant} {Ficus elastica} Gardens in Kandy [Familiar, but here often tree size] Bu deliya Ficus exasperata Upper Water Catchment [Tree: typical lobed fig leaves, leathery and with rough white hairs] Cluster Fig Ficus racemosa Banks of Menik Ganga river (Yala NP) and Debarara Wewa [Tall tree with buttressed trunk: pear-like leaves with latex; red figs] Bo N Ficus religiosa Planted and ±naturalised in Kandy and Sorabora [Big tree: large trunk; leaves have long petiole and long pointed tip] Creeping Fig N Ficus pumila (F. repens) Climbing rocks or hugging ground on verges in Kandy [Small juvenile oval leaves and aerial roots (like ivy); larger leathery leaves on adult forms]

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Myristicaceae Ruk Horsfieldia iryaghedhi Sinharaja forest subcanopy [Endemic tree: big leaves oblong-lanceolate alternate, clustered near branch tips above orange sessile berries. Orange woolly hairy under leaves and on twigs] Malaboda Myristica dactyloides Forest of Upper Water Catchment at Kandy and Sinharaja [Endemic tree: similar to latter but leathery leaves and twigs yellow-brown hairy when young] Nutmeg Myristica fragrans Planted in Peradineya.

Myrsinaceae River Mangrove Aegiceras corniculata Recorded 2012 Balu dan Ardisia willisii? Dunes by Yala Safari Game Lodge [Endemic: bush clambering with brownish-pink flowers in clusters]

Myrtaceae {a bottle-brush} {Callistemon citrinus} Gardens near Ella and Nuwara Eliya [Shrub; with red bottle brush spikes] {a bottle-brush} {Callistemon viminalis} Gardens in Kandy [Similar but weeping habit] {Tasmanian Blue Gum} {Eucalyptus globulus} Planted as shelter in tea-estates, and below Horton Plains [Typical gum with sickle-like leaves that are whitish-flushed] {Tallow-wood} {Eucalyptus microcorys} Planted below Horton Plains [Gum: similar to next but with flaky corrugated bark] {Black Butt} {Eucalyptus pilularis} As latter toward Nanu Oya [Gum: shiny lanceolate leaves and greenish white bark] The following Eucalyptus species possibly present too. Eucalyptus camuldulensis Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus maculata Eucalyptus robusta Seeta pera Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Scrub by World’s End (Horton Plains) and Kande Ela reservoir {planted in Peradeniya gardens} [Low shrub: thick 3-veined rusty - tomentose leaves; pink many-stamened flowers] Dan Syzygium caryophyllatum Yala Alu bo Syzygium makul Sinharaja forest [Endemic suckering tree: opposite acute elliptic leaves, flushed bright crimson] (no common name) Syzygium revolutum? Forest edge near Ahangama [Tree: opposite leaves 5-6cm, revolute, blunt and obovate; small flower cyme] (no common name) Syzygium rotundifolium Horton Plains elfin woods [Endemic tree: opposite roundish (2cm) notched leaves that are leathery, stiff and many-veined] Kurumbatiya Syzygium rubicundum Sinharaja forest subcanopy [Endemic tree: opposite neat acute elliptic leaves flushed rose- pink at first] Weli damba Syzygium umbrosum Horton elfin woods [Endemic: as S. rotundifolium but spathulate leaves flushed purple-crimson] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 68

Nandinaceae {no common name} {Nandina domestica} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Erect shrub resembling Berberis/Mahonia with sprays of red berries and 2-3 pinnate leaves with swollen joints]

Naucleaceae Bakmi Nauclea orientalis Forest below Rawana Ella falls [Tree with opposite broad ovate leaves, rounded tip; branches leaf-scarred]

Nelumbonaceae Sacred Lotus Nelumbo nucifera Dominant in some tanks (Yala NP & Tissamaharama) and pools in rocks on Sithulpahuwa temple road {Planted at Peradeniya Botanical Gardens} [Differs from water-lily by its big leaves held above water]

Nepenthaceae Pitcher Plant Nepenthes distillatoria Margins of tracks and forest in and below Sinharaja [Climber: oblong leaves terminate in an erect pitcher with lid; spike of tiny dull orange-green flowers]

Nyctaginaceae Kadadasi-val N Bougainvillea spp/hybrids Verges and scrub around Kandy [Familiar climber with small pale flowers and startling purplish bracts] 4 o’clock Flower N Mirabilis jalapa Lankatilake, Embekke Devale and Unawatuna verges [Robust herb whose pink or white flowers have a long narrow tube and open ca 1600]

Nymphaeaceae Olu Nymphaea pubescens Pool near gate onto Horton Plains, Yala NP tanks and paddies near Ahangama [White waterlily with outer petals purple-flushed, leaves with short purplish hairs benaeth] Red Water-lily Nymphaea pubescens var.rubra Bentota Ganga etc. [Large emergent pink/red flowers] Common Water-lily Nymphaea nouchali Widespread [white flowers, leaves glabrous beneath] Blue Water-lily Nymphaea nouchali var.caerulea Pools at Gadaladeniya and Lankatilake. Bentota Ganga 2009. [Blue/purple water-lily with flower held out of water on long stem]

Olacaceae Hora kara Strombosia nana Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic tree: alternate obovate leaves; finely fissured bark; club-shaped fruit]

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Oleaceae {Ash) {Fraxinus sp} Hakgala botanic garden [Typical ash tree] Wild Jasmine {Jasminum angustifolium} Dry scrub: NW Yala NP [Climbing jasmine: opposite pointed lanceolate leaves; 7-8 narrow white petals] {a jasmine} {Jasminum laurifolium} Gardens: Colombo and Kandy [Broader leaves] Bora Ligustrum robustrum Elfin forest near World’s End (Horton Plains) [Typical privet with ovate-lanceolate acute leaves]

Onagraceae Fuchsia N Fuchsia magellanica Verges: Nuwara Eliya [Familiar shrubby Fuchsia with violet petals and crimson sepals] (no common name) Jussiaea sp Peradeniya botanic garden pond, Tissamaharama tank and Ahangama paddies [Like next but herb with flowers half the size] Bera-diyanilla Ludwigia peruviana Very common [Shrub with willow-like leaves and 4-petalled yellow flowers ca 3cm across] The following Ludwigia species were present too. Ludwigia decurrens Ludwigia octovalvis Ludwigia perennis

Orobanchaceae an orobanche Christisonia lawii A fine addition to the list in 2012 was this species parasitic on Strobilanthes on Horton Plains. Also seen 2013.

Oxalidaceae (no common name) Biophytum sp By path in elfin forest, World’s End (Horton Plains), shade, Hakgala botanic garden and Rawana Ella falls [Regular small yellow perennial with pinnate leaves] (no common name) Biophytum sp By track to Boulder Garden [As latter but pink flowers and three leaflets] (no common name) Biophytum spp. Noted at various sites Barrelier’s Woodsorrel Oxalis barrelieri Koggala area 2012 Sleeping Beauty N Oxalis corniculata Weed in Hill Club garden (Nuwara Eliya) [From O. stricta by procumbent habit, rooting at nodes] Garden Pink Sorrel N Oxalis latifolia Weed: Hakgala botanic garden, Kande Ela reservoir and Grand Ella Motel [Typical erect oxalis with pink-purple flowers] Upright Yellow Sorrel N Oxalis stricta Weed in Peradeniya and Hakgala botanic gardens [Typical erect oxalis with yellow 5-petalled flowers, trefoil leaves]

Passifloraceae {a passion-flower} {Passiflora sp} Gardens in Kandy [Typical Passiflora but pure pink] a passion-flower Passiflora ligularis Possibly this species in Nuwara Eliya.

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Pedaliaceae Ath-nerenchi N Pedalium murex Sandy shores and waste areas in Yala and Bundala NPs, also at Unawatuna [Ascending herb with opposite coarse toothed leaves, yellow asymmetric tubular flowers and few-spined fruit] Wal-thala Sesamum radiatum Bank of paddies near Mahiyangana, Lankatilake and Tissamaharama tank [Tall erect strong- smelling herb: 5cm pink-purple foxglove like flowers]

Peperomiaceae (a pepper-elder) Peperomia sp Forest in Udawattakele [Prostrate with small fleshy leaves and dense plantain-like spikes]

Periplocaceae Indian Sarssaparilla Hemidesmus indicus Recorded 2012

Phytolaccaceae {American Pokeweed} {Phytolacca americana} Gardens in Nuwara Eliya [Tall herb: big lanceolate leaves, spikes of white flowers forming black berries] Pigeonberry N Rivina humilis Pathsides in Udawattakele [Low subshrub with tiny white flowers and coral-red berries]

Piperaceae Wal gammiris Piper argyrophyllum Margins of Sinharaja forest [Climber: alternate leaves with winged stalks clasping stem (contain pungent aromatic oil)]

Plantaginaceae Ribwort Plantain N Plantago lanceolata Verges in Nuwara Eliya [Familiar lanceolate plantain (ribbed leaves); anthers yellowish] Rat’s-tail Plantain N Plantago major Path in elfin forest, Little World’s End (Horton Plains) [Cosmopolitan broad-leaved weed, long spikes]

Plumbaginaceae Ceylon Leadwort Plumbago zeylanica Sithulpahuwa temple road [Low shrub: typical white leadwort flowers i.e. calyx with glandular hairs]

Polygalaceae (a Milkwort) Polygala sp. Very small, on Horton Plains. New in 2007. Both Polygala glaucoides and P.hirsutula are endemic. (a milkwort) N Polygala paniculata Recorded

Polygonaceae Coral Vine N Antigonon leptopus Roadsides east of Colombo, above Kandy and near Dondra etc. [Resembles a bright pink Russian Vine]

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(a knotweed) Persicaria sp Shallows of Tissamaharama tank [Robust, rather bamboo-like knotweed with white spikes] (a knotweed N) Persicaria capitata Walls and rocks: Nanu Oya, Horton Plains and Hakgala botanic gardens [Creeping: variegated leaves and pink globular heads] (a knotweed N) Polygonum chinense Abundant on verges and secondary scrub around Nuwara Eliya and toward Horton Plains [Scrambling woody plant: pink stems and clusters of small white flowers. May really be a Fallopia or Persicaria] Broad-leaved Dock N Rumex obtusifolius Frequent around Nuwara Eliya e.g. Victoria Park [Familiar coarse weed with broad leaves]

Proteaceae {Silky Oak} {Grevillea robusta} As shelter in tea-estates etc toward Nanu Oya and round Nuwara Eliya [Tree with deep pinnately-cut leaves, glossy green above, woolly white below]

Ranunculaceae (a buttercup) Ranunculus sp Wet turf by path in elfin forest, Little World’s End (Horton Plains) [Like small neat prostrate creeping buttercup]

Rhamnaceae Hin eraminiya Zizyphus oenoplia Scrub in Yala NP and near Koggala [Bush with 2-ranked alternate leaves – all of which are asymmetric and opposite a prickle]

Rhizophoraceae Weli piyanna Anisophyllea cinnamomoides Sinharaja forest [Endemic tree: 2-ranked oblong leaves (unequal base, long tip); greenish-white berry] (a mangrove) Bruguiera gymnorhiza Koggala lake [Mangrove tree: leaves neat, ovate- elliptic, opposite and black-dotted beneath] This species or possibly B.sexangula. Kadol Rhizophora apiculata Koggala lake [Similar to last but prop roots, oval leaves, brown dotted beneath; creamy white flowers and long pendulous viviparous pods] Kadol Rhizophora mucronata Koggala lake [From latter by mucronate, broader leaves (tiny red dots) and pure white flowers]

Rosaceae (a lady’s-mantle) Alchemilla indica Wet grassy margins to track on Horton Plains [Typical Alchemilla: palmately lobed leaves and clusters of small greenish flowers (each of 4 sepals)] The only species in Sri Lanka. {Loquat} {Eriobotrya japonica} Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya [Robust shrub, large (to 30cm) ribbed and brown-felted leaves] (brambles) Rubus spp Horton Plains etc and Hakgala botanic garden [Typical prickly brambles including distinctive species with neat leathery trifoliate leaves] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 72

False Blackberry Rubus ellipticus Horton Plains. Wal-rosa Rubus leucocarpus Scrubby edges on Horton Plains [Raspberry with pinnate leaves (white beneath) and white stems. Var. tomentosa] (a bramble) Rubus sojurneus? Horton Plains: elfin woods and World’s End [White flowered bramble: lobed leaves like those of currant. Possibly same species on edge of Sinharaja forest, though shape of leaf rather more like hollyhock] Yellow Strawberry N Waldsteinia ternata Weed in Hakgala botanic garden [Creeping yellow-flowered trefoil herb, like strawberry]

Rubiaceae [Note: We also saw several unidentified herbs of this family with small 4-lobed flowers and opposite leaves with prominent (often leaf-like) stipules] Kara Canthium coromandelicum Sithulpahuwa temple road (Yala NP) [Shrub: leaves opposite and white beneath, many spines above axils] Panderu Canthium dicoccum Sinharaja forest subcanopy [Endemic tree: from latter by lack of spines and twigs with swollen nodes; fruit purple berries with black kidney- shaped stones] Coffee N Coffea arabica ±naturalised in Upper Water Catchment {planted in Koggala Spice Garden} [Shrub: opposite 2-ranked leaves and red coffee beans] Pera tambala Gaertnera vaginans Sinharaja forest floor [Endemic? shrub: large opposite oblong leaves, stipular sheath bifid; big white flowers] {Cape Jasmine} {Gardenia jasminoides} In gardens at Kandy etc [Popular shrub: dense dark glossy leaves; very fragrant white flowered] Agu-kami N Geophila repens Naturalised in Peradineya [prostrate herb, small white 5 petalled fowers and red berries] Weraniya Hedyotis fruticosa Sinharaja pioneer scrub [Shrub: opposite narrow lanceolate long-pointed leaves, whitish-green beneath] (no common name) Hedyotis lawsoniae Understorey on Horton Plains [Endemic: petals small shrub, opposite leaves on 4-angled stem; 4 hairy Scrub and in loose head] (no common name) Hedyotis lessertiana Elfin forest near Little World’s End (Horton Plains) [Endemic: shrub with opposite lanceolate corrugated leaves and large spreading white flower panicles] Pita-sudu-pala Hedyotis neesiana Koggala 2012 {Ratmal} {Ixora coccinea} Hedge-forming shrub near Colombo airport and Unawatuna [Opposite leaves and clusters of scarlet 4-lobed flowers] (no common name) Knoxia platycarpa Elfin forest, Baker’s Falls (Horton Plains) [Endemic: low herb or subshrub, opposite lanceolate leaves and clusters of tiny pink flowers]

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(no common name) Lasianthus oliganthus Sinharaja forest [Endemic shrub: leaves opposite, pointed (4-5 pairs of veins); tiny sessile flowers] {no common name} {Mussaenda erythrophylla} Quite frequent in gardens at lower altitudes [Medium shrub: heads of small yellow flowers dominated by large crowded salmon-pink bracts] Mussenda Mussaenda frondosa Forest edges near the Knuckles, Sorabora and by paddies near Ahangama [Scrambling shrub: small orange flowers and large white leaf-like bract] (no common name) Neanotis nummularia Horton Plains [Herb, with dense clusters of small 4 petalled mauve flowers] Pawatta Pavetta indica Tissamaharama tank [Shrub: opposite oblanceolate leaves with scattered hard warts; black berries] {Star Cluster} {Pentas lanceolata} Peradeniya botanic garden [1m high dense shrub: compact heads red or mauve starry flowers (becoming a popular flowering pot plant in UK)] (no common name) Pleiocraterium plantaginifolium Wet pantanas near World’s End (Horton Plains), not in flower 2013 [Dense rosettes of leaves like ribwort forming bowl; short stems of white heads] (no common name) Psychotria nigra Sinharaja forest [Shrub: rather large opposite leaves; pyramidal whorled cymes of sessile green flowers] Common Emetic-nut Randia dumetorum Sithulpahuwa temple road (Yala NP) [Small tree with opposite pear-like leaves and stout stipular spines] Brazil Pusley N Richardia brasiliensis Sorabora and Victoria Radenigala (a madder) Rubia sp Path edges, elfin forest, World’s End (Horton Plains) [Typical green-flowered madder, but with long stalked leaves – may be naturalised from East Africa] Woodland False Spermacoce assurgens Sorabora Buttonweed N Rawan idala Wendlandia bicuspidata Forest edge, Sinharaja. Kottawa 2012. [Small tree: leaves 3 at a node, veins below pinkish; pyramidal white flower-panicle]

Rutaceae Ankenda Acronychia pedunculata Rain forest understorey: Udawattakele and Sinharaja [Small tree: aromatic opposite elliptic leaves] Satinwood Chloroxylon swietenia Sithulpahuwa temple road [Tree: alternate pinnate leaves (small oblique leaflets, aromatic when crushed] Lunu ankenda Euodia lunu-ankenda Pioneer scrub at Sinharaja [Small tree: subopposite trefoil aromatic leaves; 4-lobed fruit]

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Wood Apple Limonia acidissima Scrub in Yala NP, and Kalametiya [Tree with pinnate leaves and spiny trunk; white woody fruit with brown pulp]

Sapindaceae (no common name) Dodonaea sp? Scrub by road near the Knuckles [Shrub with 3- winged fruit resembling those of a dock] Pihimbiya Filicium dicipiens Udawattakele forest; verges in Randenigala reserve and Unawatuna [Tree: crowded pinnate leaves with winged rhachis]

Sapotaceae Palu Manilkara hexandra Abundant at Bundala especially by tracks and next to lagoons [Tall tree with small alternate ovate leaves, often notched or bilobed, and yellow berries] Kiri hembiliya Palaquium grande Sinharaja forest canopy, Kottawa 2012 [Endemic tree: terminally crowded oval leaves, somewhat hairy beneath. P. petiolare almost certainly present too]

Scrophulariaceae Gas-kotala Artanema longifolium Unawatuna lanes [Herb with opposite leaves & square stems: pale purple slightly asymmetric flowers] (no common name) Lindernia sp? Peradeniya botanic garden pool and by paddies inland from Ahangama [Small Veronica-like but pink-purple] (a lousewort) Pedicularis sp Moist patana on Horton Plain [Typical pink lousewort with pinnately lobed leaves and 2- lipped flowers] Rock Violet Torenia cyanea Damp shady turf: Hakgala botanic garden [Endemic: low herb, 2-lipped parti-coloured flower (lilac, violet with yellowish throat] (no common name) Torenia travencorica Margins by research station and path down from gate, Sinharaja NP [As latter but taller and leafier]

Solanaceae (no common name N) Browallia americana Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya) [Small purple herb] Angel’s Trumpet N Brugmansia x candida Naturalised on verges east out of Kandy [Shrub with velvety leaves and white vertical pendulous trumpets] Angel’s Trumpet N Brugmansia suaveolens Verges between Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains [As latter but flowers hang at slight angle] {Yesterday, today & tomorrow} {Brunfelsia latifolia?} Gardens in Colombo & Kandy [Shrub: obovate leaves; 2cm 5-petalled flowers fade to white from violet] (no common name N) Cestrum aurantiacum Nuwara Eliya [Subshrub, foetid leaves and cluster of long yellow tubular flowers]

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(no common name N) Cestrum parquii? Lankatilake verges [From last by more upright form and paler flowers] (no common name N) Cestrum purpureum Scrub and edges: Nuwara Eliya and Farr Inn [Shrub: cluster of purple-red tubes, leaves stink when crushed] Thorn-apple N Datura metel Kandy area [1-2m tall, white semi-erect trumpets, prickly globose fruit] {Chalice Vine} {Solandra nitida} Gardens: Ella & Yala [Vigorous climber: golden buff large trumpets, leathery glossy leaves] (a nightshade bush N} Solanum sp Forming secondary scrub with Polygonum chinense and Solanum mauritianum near Kande Ela reservoir [2-3m shrub: white flowered with jagged toothed leaves covered in rusty hairs] (a nightshade) Solanum americanum Lake Gregory, Nuwara Eliya {no common name} {Solanum jasminoides (album)} Gardens: Unawatuna [Climber: white potato flowers] {Potato Tree} {Solanum macranthum} Peradeniya botanic garden [Small tree: large bristly deeply cut leaves, violet flowers 3-5cm] (a nightshade N) Solanum mauritianum Common around Nuwara Eliya e.g. Victoria Park and forest edge toward Horton Plains [5- 6m downy shrub: oval leaves and typical violet “potato” flowers] Aubergine N Solanum melongena Naturalised in Koggala area 2012 Black Nightshade N Solanum nigrum Weed by Hill Club (Nuwara Eliya) [Familiar weed, like tiny white-flowered potato] Purple Potato Vine Solanum seaforthianum By Horton Plains entrance gate Wel-thibbatu Solanum trilobatum Waste by Yala NP [Low undershrub: stems with hooked prickles and arrow-head shaped leaves; 20-25mm violet flowers (petals distinct) and prominent yellow stamens] Tibbatu Solanum violaceum Surely present too Ela-batu Solanum xanthocarpum Verges in Yala and Bundala NPs [Similar to last but prickles also on midrib and smaller polygonal (petals overlapping) flowers and short orange stamens] {Marmalade Bush} {Streptosolen jamesonii} Nuwara Eliya gardens [Small shrub: orange flowers in clusters]

Sonneratiaceae Kirala Sonneratia caseolaris Koggala lake, Bentota area [Mangrove tree: roundish leaves; upright breathing roots; big red flowers, ovoid berry with cup-like, persistent spreading calyx]

Staphyleaceae Eta hiriya Turpinia malabarica Scrub in Sinharaja NP [Small tree: opposite pinnate (bicompound) leaves (3-9 toothed leaflets) flushed pink-scarlet; purplish-black fruit (2 big stipules)]

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Sterculiaceae {no common name} [Dombeya wallichii} Yala Safari Game Lodge [Large shrub: pendent clusters of pink flowers; hairy cordate leaves] Screw-fruit Tree Helicteres isora Victoria Radenigala 2012 Telambu Sterculia foetida By Sorabora lake {cultivated at Yala} [Tree with palmate leaves and foetid orange flowers] Cocoa tree N Theobroma cacao Upper Water Catchment (Kandy) [Small tree: big elliptic leaves; large oval ridged pods on trunk]

Symplocaceae Bombu Symplocos cochinchinensis Sinharaja forest edge [Small tree: hairless broad elliptic leaves and compound white flower spike] (no common name) Symplocos cuneata Sinharaja forest understorey [Endemic tree: from next by adpressed hairy leaves; pinkish-white flowers] (no common name) Symplocos elegans Horton Plains elfin forest [Endemic shrub: leaves alternate, downrolled margin, white flower spikes]

Theaceae {Tea} {Camellia sinensis} Shaping the land between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya though only cultivated in Sri Lanka since 1867 [Small shrub: white buttercup-like flowers] Wana halu Eurya acuminata Sinharaja forest fringe [Shrub: narrow oblong toothed leaves with silky buds; small white flowers]

Thunbergiaceae (sometimes included in Acanthaceae) Black-eyed Susan N Thunbergia alata From the Nanu Oya train [Climber whose yellow trumpets have a black throat] Puneela Mal N Thunbergia erecta Pathsides in Udawattakele etc. [2m shrub with yellow tubes and purple (or white) lobed trumpets] {no common name} {Thunbergia fragrans} Gardens in Kandy [Climber: white scentless trumpets] Trumpet N Thunbergia grandiflora By paths at Udawattakele and Upper Water Catchment, and in south-west [Woody climber with 6-8cm light blue trumpets] {Manjarabade Creeper) {Thunbergia mysorensis} Garden of Hotel Suisse, Kandy, not in flower [Large climber with pendulous racemes of yellow and red flowers]

Tiliaceae Bora daminiya Grewia rothii Upper Water Catchment (Kandy) understorey [Shrub: wavy twigs, and 2-ranked alternate leaves (3-veined)] {Jam tree} { calabura} Widespread, e.g. temple loop [Small tree with two-ranked leaves, each with unequal base, velvety hairy beneath] (no common name) Triumfetta pentandra This species present?

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{no common name} {Triumfetta rhomboidea} Nuwara Eliya gardens [Subshrub: yellow flowers with spaced petals]

Tropaeolaceae Nasturtium N Tropaeolum majus Verges near Nuwara Eliya [Familiar herb: round leaves and orange irregular spurred flowers]

Ulmaceae Charcoal Tree Trema orientalis Causeway in Koggala mangroves [Tree: 2- ranked, nettle-like with unequal base, silvery beneath; clusters of small green flowers]

Urticaceae {no common name} {Pellionia pulchra} Boulder Garden {Rock hugging creeper, brown stems light green with dark veins} (no common name) Pilea sp Wall crevices near Hotel Suisse [Small-leaved herb (foliage like Selaginella) and tiny green flowerheads. Weed under staging in some UK orchid houses!] (no common name) Pilea sp Edges of elfin forest on Horton Plains [From last by bigger 3-toothed leaves and prostrate habit]

Valerianaceae (a valerian?) Valeriana sp? Marshes on Horton Plain [Possible identity of low blue herb like Valeriana dioica]

Verbenaceae Wal gurenda Clerodendrum inerme Unawatuna (above tide line) [Low shrub: opposite aromatic leaves; fragrant white flowers] Pinna Clerodendrum infortunatum By paddies near Koggala [Low shrub: opposite cordate leaves, twigs 4-angled; open inflorescence of white flowers with reddish calyx] (no common name N) Clerodendrum nutans Verges below Sinharaja [Similar to next but nodding white flowerheads] Pagoda-flower Clerodendrum paniculatum Roadsides near Sinharaja [From Pinna by 5-7 lobed leaves and orange-red flowers] Starburst Clerodendrum Clerodendrum quadriloculare Gardens in Kandy {no common name} {Clerodendrum splendens} Yala Safari Game Lodge garden [Sprawling shrub: clusters of bright deep red flowers] {Glory Bower} {Clerodendrum thompsonae} Gardens in Koggala & Galle [Vigorous climber: light green or white calyx setting off red flowers] {no common name} {Congea tomentose} Gardens in Kandy etc [Vigorous climber: pink leaf-like flowers. Often placed in Symphoremataceae] Asiatic Beech-berry Gmelina asiatica Sithulpahuwa temple road (Yala NP) [Spiny shrub: opposite leaves; yellow flowers, overlapping bracts] Lantana N Lantana camara Roadside weed near Kandy and in Bundala NP [Scrambling prickly shrub: oval leaves and parti- coloured heads of mauve, orange (var splendens) and yellow flowers] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 78

{no common name} {Lantana montevidensis} Gardens in Kandy [From last by pink flowers and foetid foliage; sprawling shrub] {Purple Wreath} {Petrea volubilis} Gardens in Kandy and Colombo [Vigorous climber: stiff rough leaves; 5-pointed blue- mauve flowers] (no common name N) Phyla (Lippia) nodiflora Compressed moist turf on dunes by Yala Safari Game Lodge and edge of paddy-field path near Ahangana [Low prostrate-ascending herb: dense pink heads] Bu seru Premna tomentosa Upper Water Catchment [Small tree with opposite large heart-shaped leaves] Balunakuta N Stachytarpheta urticaefolia Verges near the Knuckles [Vervain-like herb with narrow spikes of appressed calyces and open largish blue bird’s-eye flowers] {Teak} {Tectona grandis} Plantations below the Knuckles and near Ella [Tree with opposite broad-elliptic leaves, silvery beneath] Milla Vitex altissima Lanes at Unawatuna and forest edge in Sinharaja. Kottawa 2012. [Small tree: opposite trefoil leaves, winged petioles] Nika Vitex negundo Yala NP scrub (road to Sithulpahuwa and Menik Ganga river) [Small tree: aromatic opposite leaves (3-5 leaflets); open branched spikes of lavender flowers]

Violaceae (a violet) Viola betonicifolia A few on Horton Plains. (a violet) Viola pilosa A small pale flowered violet on Horton Plains.

Vitaceae Veld Grape Cissus quadrangularis Bundala 2012

Zygophyllaceae Maltese Cross Tribulus terrestris Yala NP sandy shores [Opposite pinnate leaves (no terminal leaflet), fruit like a caltrop and yellow flowers 10-15mm (not ca 5mm as in Europe – same species?)]

MONOCOTYLEDONES Agavaceae {Sisal} {Agave sisalana?} Planted in baulks in tea-estates toward Nanu Oya [Big basal grey-green sword-like leaves and tall branched inflorescence] {Torbay Palm} {Cordyline australis} Gardens in Kandy [Familiar cabbage palm] {no common name} {Dracaena deremensis} Gardens in Kandy [Popular erect garden plant: strap-shaped leaves are red tinted] {Botal gas} {Dracaena fragrans} Gardens in Kandy and Colombo [Shrub: terminally crowded leaves, long-lanceolate; unbranched stem]

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{no common name} {Dracaena sanderiana} Gardens in Kandy (variegata) [Popular erect plant: as last two, but long yellow variegated leaves] {no common name} {Sansevieria trifasciata} Gardens in Kandy etc [Perennial herb: pale green and yellow sword-shaped leaves (laurentii)] {Bow-string Hemp} {Sansevieria zeylanica} With latter [Pale green and dark green sword- shaped leaves. Native on Sri Lanka]

Alismataceae (an arrowhead) Sagittaria sp Channel at Sorabora and Peradeniya pond (planted?) [Emergent aquatic with lanceolate leaves, 3-petalled white flowers]

Amaryllidaceae {no common name} {Clivia blandfordiae} Hakgala botanic garden [Bulbous plant: sword- shaped leaves and stalked cluster of orange tubular flowers] Tholabo Crinum asiaticum Coastal sands west of Dondra [Similar to C. defixum to 1m with 5-6cm narrow white spreading petals] Heen-tholabo Crinum defixum Between Victoria Radenigala and Mahiyangana [Lily-like with clusters of large white flowers, each with 6 narrow drooping petals] {no common name} {Crinum kirkii} Hakgala botanic garden [Large bulbous plant with white cup-like flowers] {no common name} {Eucharis amazonica} Hakgala botanic garden [Like large white more open daffodil] (no common name N) Hippeastrum reticulatum Open sand by access to Yala Safari Game Lodge [Big bulbous herb: large white trumpets on tall stem and wavy basal leaves appressed to ground]

Aponogetonaceae (a cape-pondweed) Aponogeton sp Pools in Bundala NP [Maybe just a form of following, but with distinctive pale lavender blue flowers] Kekatiya Aponogeton jacobsenii Pool and stream on Horton Plains [Aquatic herb: oblong floating and submerged leaves; white spikes of flowers curving at tips] Kekatiya Aponogeton natans Peradeniya Botanical Gardens pool (planted?). Tissamaharama area tanks. [Very similar to above (distinct?) – all leaves floating]

Araceae {no common name} {Aglaonema commutatum} Gardens in Kandy [Semi-climbing: variegated hastate leaves (Possibly also native in this area)] {a taro} {Alocasia esculenta} Cultivated plots between Colombo and Kandy [Like robust Cuckoo Pint with large long-stalked leaves] {a taro} {Alocasia macrorrhiza} As latter [From last mainly by crinkled leaves]

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{a taro} {Alocasia x arecmazonica} Yala Safari Game Lodge [From the food species by pronounced white veins on dark green background] {Flamingo Lily} {Anthurium x cultorum} Gardens in Kandy [Familiar hothouse plant: red waxy spathe and yellow spadix (aka A. andreanum)] Wal-kidaran Arisaema leschenaulti Elfin forest, Baker’s Falls (Horton Plains] and forest at upper edge of Hakgala botanic garden [“Cobra lily” aroid: hooded tubular spathe of green and cream; leaves are pedately divided] {no common name} {Caladium x hortulanum} Cultivated at edge of paddies between Colombo and Kandy [Like delicate Alocasia with large central red blotch on leaves; spadix has no terminal appendage] {Taro} {Colocasia esculenta} Cultivated by paddies near Mahiyangana [Like Alocasia etc, but with terminal appendage to spadix] {no common name} {Dieffenbachia spp} Gardens in Kandy [Numerous types of this Aroid with variegated leaves] False Breadfruit Epipremnum pinnatum Rain forest at Udawattakele [Ground cover or climber: glossy green yellow-streaked leaves - heart shaped when juvenile, adult cut like small Monstera] {Swiss Cheese Plant} {Monstera deliciosa} Gardens in Kandy (possibly becoming) naturalised [Popular scrambling aroid: irregular deeply cut leaves often with holes in younger leaves] {no common name} {Philodendron sp} Gardens near Bundala [Like more ornate Monstera] Water Lettuce Pistia stratiotes Tissamaharama tank [Free-floating herb: dense rosette of oblong stalkless densely downy leaves] (an aroid N) Syngonium podophyllum? Shrouding fences etc at Unawatuna and Ahangama {This or related species in gardens in Kandy and toward Sorabora} [Climber with pedate leaves and small white spathes] Arum-lily N Zantedeschia aethiopica Ditches by roads near Nuwara Eliya {also in Kandy gardens} [Familiar white-spathed aroid]

Arecaceae (formerly known as Palmae) {Betel-nut palm} {Areca catechu} Planted in Koggala spice garden [Pinnate palm: trunk slender and fruit orange drupes] Palmyra Palm N Borassus flabellifer {Planted: Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in avenue} and ±naturalised on Yala dunes [Fan- palm with spiny leaf-stalk] Thambotu wel Calamus zeylanicus Forest edges in Sinharaja [Large scrambling rattan with stems like green hosepipes] Fishtail Palm (Kitul) Caryota urens Rain forest subcanopy and edges, also cultivated: Udawattakele and Sinharaja. Widespread. [Small bipinnate palm, fishtail leaflets]

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Coconut Palm N Cocos nucifera Cultivated groves near Colombo, Dondra, Unawatuna etc [Familiar tall pinnate leaved palm with large fruit] {Sealing-wax Palm} {Cyrtostachys renda} Gardens in Kandy [Palm tree with red stems] {Ruffled Fan-palm} {Licuala grandis} Planted in Colombo [Tall palm like Borassus] {Coco de mer} {Lodoicea maldivica} Peradeniya botanic gardens [Double coconut palm] Katu kitul Oncosperma fasciculatum Sinharaja ridges [Endemic: pinnate palm with rhachis spiny near base; trunk spiny and thickened near base] {Royal Palm} {Roystonea regia} Peradeniya botanic gardens (forming avenues) [Pinnate palm with swollen waisted trunk]

Cannaceae {Indian Shot Plant} {Canna indica} Gardens: Colombo and Kandy [Popular tall hothouse plant: lanceolate leaves, spikes of asymmetric large flowers and warty fruit]

Commelinaceae (a day-flower) Commelina diffusa Bank at Sorabora (possibly same species at Kandy and Bundala) [Straggling herb: 3-petalled flowers, comprising two larger blue petals and a smaller pale petal, with sheathing ovate leaves] (day-flowers) Commelina benghalensis Scattered records Commelina clavata Horton Plains Commelina ensifolia Also present Commelina kurzii Also present (a tradescanth) Cyanotis tuberosa Stony slopes: by road over the Knuckles and on Horton Plains [Typical blue tradescanth with delicate feathery flower-parts] (tradescanths) Cyanotis spp. Several other species present {no common name} {Dichorisandra thyrsiflora} Gardens near Sorabora [Large erect herb: central spike of purple flowers; branches often piercing leaf-sheath] Asiatic Dewflower Murdannia spirata Sorabora 2012 {no common name} {Rhoeo spathacea (discolor)} Planted, Koggala Beach hotel and Kandy [Bromeliad-like rosette of leaves purple beneath; short spike of white flowers with overlapping bracts] {no common name} {Tradescantia pallida} Gardens in Kandy [Typical tradescanth with alternate ovate sheathing (purple) leaves (purpurea)]

Costaceae Thebu speciosus Rain forest gullies: Udawattakele, Kalawana and Sinharaja (Same? species near Nuwara Eliya) [Ginger-like tall herb (not aromatic); cluster of white flowers] {no common name} {Costus spicatus} Gardens in Kandy etc [From last by red hairy bracts]

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Cyperaceae (a sedge) Carex sp Elfin forest, Baker’s Falls (Horton Plains) (leaves only Sinharaja – C. indica?) [Typical tall sedge: triangular stems, separate ♂ and ♀ spikes] (annual galingales) Cyperus spp. Moist sites: Sorabora, Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya), Sithulpahuwa road (Yala NP), paddies near Ahangama [Several dwarf spp: dense heads of flattened spikelets] (beach galingale) Cyperus sp Sandy shores in Yala NP [Short creeping perennial with clustered spikelets] (perennial galingales) Cyperus spp Channels at Sorabora, Tissamaharama tank and paddies near Koggala [Tall leafy perennial with clusters of compressed spikelets] {a galingale} {Cyperus alternifolius} Gardens in Kandy [Familiar small Cyperus] Papyrus N Cyperus papyrus Beds in shallows of Lake Gregory [Large cyperus with huge globular umbel] There are 36 species of Cyperus in the flora (a spike-rush) Eleocharis sp Quarry pools, Unawatuna [Typical spike-rush: leafless stems with sheaths, single terminal capitate spike] Floating Spike-rush Eleogiton fluitans? Puddle by path in elfin forest, Little World’s End, Horton Plains [Like grass-leaved pondweed with tiny terminal green spikelets. Certainly Eleogiton but may be species closely related to UK E. fluitans] N.B. there are no species of Eleogiton in the flora! (no common name) Fimbristylis sp Sinharaja forest wet edge [Sedge with small spikelets and feathery styles] (bristle clubrush) Isolepis sp Sinharaja moist edges [Tufted slender clubrush with apparently lateral tiny spikelets] (a clubrush) Scirpus sp Tissamaharama tank [Robust clubrush with triangular stem: cluster of stalked tiny spikelets] (no common name) Scleria sp By lanes at Unawatuna [Slender sedge: spike- like inflorescence of small distant flowers, each forming a tiny hard pearl-like fruit]

Dioscoreaceae {an air yam} {Dioscorea bulbifera} Koggala spice garden [Climber with cordate leaves]

Eriocaulaceae Kokmota Eriocaulon ceylanicum Wet roadside gutters and bogs on (and below) Horton Plains [Endemic pipewort: dense tufts of thread-like leaves and long-stalked white heads of tiny flowers] Eriocaulon spp. Others certainly present

Flagellariaceae (no common name) Flagellaria indica Rough margins: Kottawa, Koggala and Ahangama [Climber with forking stems, large grass-like leaves ending in tendril and widely branched inflorescence] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 83

Heliconiaceae {no common name} {Heliconia spp} Plants of following five (or other) species seen in gardens while travelling [Tall herbs like slender banana, pinnate flowerheads. Only key features are given for those five distinguished] {no common name} {Heliconia bihai} Unawatuna garden [Red bracts with green margins] {no common name} {Heliconia collinsiana} Peradeniya botanic garden [Zigzag flower stem; red and yellow flowers] {no common name} {Heliconia humilis} Yala Safari Game Lodge [Crimson-tipped green boat brow-like flowers in a long head] {no common name} {Heliconia psittacorum} Journey to Sinharaja [Small bracts in terminal upright heads] {no common name} {Heliconia rostrata} Unawatuna and Koggala [Large pendant flowers of red bracts with yellow/green tips]

Hydrocharitaceae (no common name) Ottelia sp Shallow pool by paddies near Koggala lake [Like frog-bit but ovate-round submerged leaves, translucent net-veined and 3-petalled white flowers]

Hypoxidaceae Bintala Curculigo orchioides Turf by Sorabora lake [Resembles tiny yellow crocus, with folded plantain-like leaves]

Iridaceae (no common name N) Aristea ecklonii Horton Plains: verges & patana grasslands [Gladiolus like leaves; tall stems with blue starry flowers] Montbretia N Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Verges near Nuwara Eliya [Iris-like leaves; 1-sided sprays of orange trumpet flowers]

Juncaceae (uncertain as to status of these species – very possibly naturalised) (a jointed rush) Juncus sp Marshy depressions on Horton Plains [Typical leafy rush with branched flowerhead and leaves with septa] Soft Rush Juncus effusus Wet areas by road to Horton Plains [Tufted quill- like rush (no leaves) and apparently lateral flower tassels]

Lemnaceae (a duckweed) Lemna sp Yala NP (pools) and Tissamaharama tank [Tiny floating discs bearing one root each] Greater Duckweed Spirodela sp Tissamaharama tank [Like large Lemna with several roots per frond, purple underneath - S. polyrhiza?]

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Liliaceae {African Lily} {Agapanthus campanulatus} Planted on baulks of terraces around Nuwara Eliya [Popular bulb with flowers in umbel: mainly blue but some on Horton Plains road were white] {an aloë} {Aloë arborescens} Gardens near Kandy [Branched scrub: long thick spine-toothed succulent leaves; upright red flower racemes] Komarica Aloë vera Coastal scrub at Unawatuna [From last by soft hooks] (an asparagus) Asparagus sp Dunes by Yala Safari Game Lodge [Arching woody spineless asparagus with fleshy “leaves” (branches)] Hatharvariya Asparagus falcatus Coastal scrub at Unawatuna [Climber with long narrow, slightly curved leaves and spines] {an asparagus} {Asparagus plumosus} Gardens in Kandy [Familiar florist’s “asparagus fern”: climber with very fine green “leaves”] (no common name) Disporum leschenaultiaum Path in elfin forest, Little World’s End (Horton Plains) [Branched perennial herb, ovate- lanceolate leaves with 3 prominent veins; white drooping 6-petalled flowers, black round fruit] Glory Lily N Gloriosa superba Trackside scrub in more frequented parts of Yala NP and Victoria Radenigala [Exotic climber (using leaf-tip tendrils) with red and yellow undulate tepals] {no common name} {Tulbaghia violacea} Gardens: Kandy etc [Bulbous: lavender blue flowers clustered at top of scape, strong- smelling leaves]

Limnocharitaceae Water-poppy N Limnocharis flava Paddies near Ahangama [Robust aquatic herb with ovate leaves and few-flowered yellow umbels]

Musaceae Banana N Musa sapientum Commonly cultivated but also ± naturalised near Colombo [Familiar gigantic herb with huge leaves that fray and pendulous clusters of bananas]

Orchidaceae Bamboo Orchid N graminifolia Rail cuttings in hills toward Nanu Oya, verges toward Horton Plains and by tracks in Sinharaja [Tall (1-2m) bamboo-like orchid with pink- purple flowers to 7cm] (an orchid) Calanthe triplicatis Shade in upper Hakgala botanic garden (planted?) [Tall terrestrial orchid with ovate basal leaves (paler beneath) and loose globose white spike] (an epiphytic orchid) Oberonia wightii Trees and fallen branches: elfin forest, Horton Plains. Not in flower 2012. [Small-flowered, greenish-yellow (pendulous sprays)] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 85

(a butterfly orchid?) Platanthera sp? Moist scrubby bank on Horton Plains zigzag [Pale greenish flowers like typical Platanthera, but much leafier than is usual (like a helleborine)] Hyacinth Orchid Satyrium nepalense Nuwara Eliya verges. 2012 only 1 on Horton Plains [Terrestrial orchid to 50cm, resembling a slender pink frog orchid] (an orchid) Spathoglottis sp Rail cuttings near Nanu Oya. Probably microchilina? (a lady’s-tresses) Spiranthes sinensis Boggy slope on Horton Plains [Slender leafy orchid: tiny green flowers in spiral] {Vanilla orchid} {Vanilla fragrans} Gardens in Unawatuna [Tall terrestrial liane-like orchid: succulent leaves and white flowers]

Pandanaceae Keyiya Pandanus ceylanicus Stream bank in Sinharaja NP [Typical low screw- pine but often prostrate, leaf-bases reddish- purple] Weta keyiya Pandanus kaida? Wet gully in Udawattakele [Branched shrub with tufts of very long narrow leaves - vicious toothed margins] Mudu keyiya Pandanus odoratissimus Coastal sand at Unawatuna [Small densely branched and leafy tree: leaves drooping, with white prickles; fragrant flowers and red fruit] {Weta keyiya} {Pandanus tectorius} Koggala gardens [From next by big red & green fruits] (a screw pine N) Pandanus veitchii? By Kandy lake [Large bush: very long narrow leaves, variegated]

Poaceae [We did not really get to grips with the grasses. Unidentified species that caught our attention included 1) big dense tussock of grey leaves >2cm broad and tall bent-like inflorescence (Horton Plains)] and 2) small “foxtail bamboo” in swamps on Horton Plains (Chusquea sp?)] (a grass) Andropogon lividus/polyptychos Often dominant in patana grassland on Horton Plains [Tussocky: rough, hairy (barbed) leaves, V-shaped in section; panicles of paired spikelets] Sweet Vernal-grass N Anthoxanthum odoratum Victoria Park (Nuwara Eliya) [Familiar spiked grass: tasting of new mown hay] (a bamboo) Arundinaria densifolia? Scrubby areas and elfin woods: Horton Plains [Low-medium bamboo with many densely packed leaves] (an oat N) Avena sp? Verges below Sinharaja [Like large typical wild oat with densely hairy lemmae] (a bamboo) Calamus zeylanicus? Sinharaja forest margins [Scrambling long- leaved bamboo, forming thickets] Giant Bamboo N Dendrocalamus giganteus Forest edge: Udawattakele [Huge bamboo in clumps] (a love-grass) Eragrostis sp. Wet turf by road over Knuckles [Low grass: ligule ring of hairs; branched panicle: compressed spikelets] Illuk Imperata cylindrica Verges near Hakgala, south coast and Sinharaja [1m tall grass with silvery white spike] Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 86

(no common name) Lophatherum zeylanicum? Possible identity of common non-flowering grass in Sinharaja forest [Endemic] (a bamboo) Ochlandra stridula Forest edges near Kalawana [Endemic: low branching broad-leaved bamboo, rather drooping] (no common name) Oplismenus sp? Sinharaja forest floor [Trailing ground cover with broad lanceolate leaves] (a finger-grass) Paspalum conjugatum Sinharaja rough margins [Grass with cluster of finger-like spikes] Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua Victoria Park and Kande Ela reservoir (Nuwara Eliya) [Weedy annual: branched flower-head; crinkled leaves] Water Bent N Polypogon viridis Moist dune turf by Yala Safari Game Lodge [Creeping perennial with rather dense flower- panicle of whorled branches (spikelets 1- flowered)] {Sugar Cane} {Saccharum officinarum} Locally cultivated [Familiar tall grass crop] (a spinifex grass) Spinifex littoreus Coastal sands at Yala NP [Crowded glaucous stiff leaves creeping in lines]

Pontederiaceae Water Hyacinth N Eichhornia crassipes Channels at Sorabora and Lake Gregory [Floating: inflated leaf-stalks and spikes of lilac- purple flowers] Arrow Leaf Pondweed Monochoria hastata Choking Debarawewa Lesser Water Hyacinth Monochoria vaginalis Paddies near Ahangama [Creeping aquatic herb: long-stalked lanceolate leaves; spikes of blue flowers]

Smilacaceae (a smilax) Smilax sp World’s End (Horton Plains) [Clamberer with cordate leaves: some prickles on leaves, stalks and/or stems. Resembles common Mediterranean S. aspera]

Strelitziaceae {Traveller’s Palm} {Ravenala madagascariensis} Train journey to Nuwara Eliya [Dramatic 6m tree: banana-like leaves arranged fanlike in one plane] {Bird-of-paradise flower}{Strelitzia reginae} Frequent in gardens [Familiar ornamental: banana like leaves and spray of orange flowers (red-and-green bracts and violet anthers)]

Taccaceae {Bat flower} {Tacca chantrieri} Koggala spice garden [Black ‘devil’ flower: wing-like blackish bracts and long filaments; corrugated leaves]

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Typhaceae Lesser Bulrush Typha angustifolia Bundala NP (lagoons and nearby channels) and Tissamaharama tank [Typical reedmace with two-ranked greyish-green leaves and club-like head]

Zingiberaceae (no common name) Alpinia abundiflora Elfin forest, Baker’s Falls (Horton Plains) and by zigzag road up [2m herb: 60cm leaves; short stem with tiny white flowers almost hidden by red bracts] {Red Ginger} {Alpinia purpurata} Peradeniya botanic garden [From last by 20cm cone-like spikes with long crimson bracts] Shell Ginger N Alpinia speciosa (A. zerumbet) Marsh below Sorabora lake and in Yala NP [Typical ginger with pinkish-white curved spikes] Ela-mal coronarium Forest in hills near the Knuckles [Tall ginger-like herb: open clusters of white flowers]

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