Nature

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Manoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Psophocapus Species: P.teragonolobous Psophocarpus is a genus of five species of twining, tuberous-rooted herbs. The plants have trifoliate leaves and 4-sided, 4-winged pods. P. tetragonolobous is grown for its immature pods which are eaten as a vegetable. The plant is a twining glabrous perennial herb, usually grown as an annual. It has numerous roots; main long, thick, tuberous laterals running horizontally at a shallower depth. Morphological Characters Stem: The stem is ridged and 2-3 m long. Leaves: Trifoliate leaves are arranged alternatively. The leaf has a long petiole, which is deeply grooved on the upper surface. A large pulvinus is located at the base of the leaf. The stipules are 2-parted and the stipels are small. Flowers: The inflorescence is an axillary raceme, with 2-10 flowe...

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnolipsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Phaseolus Species: P. vulgaris Phaseolus has about 150 species of annuals and perennials. P. vulgaris is the best known and most widely cultivated species of Phaseolus. It is grown for the immature edible pods and dry ripe seeds. Many cultivars of P. vulgaris are recorded and all can be divided into two. 1) Dwarf or bush cultivars: These do not need a support and are early maturing 2)Climbing or pole cultivars: These require supports, take longer time to mature and have a longer bearing period. Morphological Characters Stem: The climbing cultivars are 2-3m tall, whereas, the erect bushy cultivars reach only up to 20-60 cm height. Leaves: The leaf arrangement is alternate. The leaf is trifoliate, somewhat hairy and has a long petiole grooved above. Pulvini are present at the base of the le...

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Glycine Species: G.max G.max is one of the world’s most important sources of oil and protein. The unripe seeds are eaten as a vegetable. The seeds are processed to make soy milk, curd, tofu and cheese. Many different food products are made from G. max. It is also an important pasture and fodder crop that made in to hay and silage and also used as a green manure and a cover crop. Morphological Characters Stem: The plants are erect, bushy, pubescent annuals of 20-180 cm in height. Grey hairs present on the stem, leaves, calyx and pod. Plants show two types of growth.   1)    Determinate Growth: The terminal bud develops in to a terminal inflorescence.   2)    Indeterminate Growth: The stem does not terminate with an inflorescence. Roots: A tap root system is present,...

Taxonomic Classification Kingdom: Planate Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Cajanus Species: C. cajan C. cajan is a woody, short-lived perennial shrub, but sometimes grown as an annual. The plant reaches 1-4m in height and has a deep tap-root with longer laterals. Morphological Characters Stem: The young stems are angled and hairy. Leaves: Leaves are trifoliate and spirally arranged with a phyllotaxy of 2/5. They tend to be deciduous. The leaf petiole is grooved above. Stipules are small and hairy and the stipples are small. Puluvinus is present at the base of petiole and at the base of leaflets. Leaflets are lanceolate to narrow elliptic in shape, entire, acute at both ends and hairy on both surfaces. The lower surface of the leaflets is grey color with minute yellow resinous glands. The terminal leaflet is larger and longer-stalked than the short-stalked laterals. F...

Taxonomic classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Leguminosae Genus: Arachis Species: A. hypogaea Arachis is a small genus of about 40 species. Except A. hypogaea, all other species are wild and perennial. In all species, ripening of the fruits takes place underground.   A.    hypogaesis is an annual herb, with erect or trailing habit. The plant is sparsely hairy and 15-60cm in height. The plant shows a dimorphic branching habit, with monopodial vegetative branches and reduced reproductive branches. In the first 3-5 nodes, monopodial branches arise, whereas, secondary monopodia may also arise from these branches. Reduced reproductive branches arise singly at nodes of monopodia. According to the arrangement of the monopodial vegetative and reduced reproductive branches, there are two distinct types of A. hypogaea. Alternate branches and sequential branches. ...

Sinhalese: Aliya, Atha (tusker) Tamil: Yanei Description: The average height of an adult male is about 2.5 meters at the shoulder, although in rare instances, they have been known to reach 3 meters. The female is about 15 cm shorter. If the circumference of the fore-foot is measured and then doubled, it will give an approximate height of the elephant. A very few males have tusks, the females never grow them, but occasionally both sexes may have small tushes which are really the incisor teeth. The elephant has 6 sets of teeth which continue growing throughout its 60-70 years of life. The new teeth come from the back and push the old teeth forward where they are worn down by the continuous chewing. When the final set has been used, the elephant’s life is at an end as it can no longer feed itself. In the prime of life an elephant can weight as much as 3,000 kg. Distribution: Elephants are found in the jungle areas of the island. These are mostly in the northern, easter...

Sinhalese: Wal Mee-Haraka, Mee-Haraka, Wal-Meema Tamil: Kadu-Madu, Kadu-Errume Description: The wild Buffalo is generally larger and darker than the domesticated type, standing about 150 cm at the shoulder and weighting about 900 kg. Their life-span is about 20 years. The adult is dark grey with very little hair, while the young are covered with thick brownish hair. Distribution: The wild buffalo is found only in the more remote of the low country dry zone. Most of the herds seen are feral, or domesticated stock. Habits: The females and their calves generally tend to from herds, but the older bulls are more solitary and territorial. They like to spend the day wallowing in muddy water-holes quietly chewing the cud, and feeding on grasses and herbs during the cool of the evening, at night and early morning. Their sense of smell is excellent, and their hearing and sight good. Breeding: The gestation period lasts for 10 months, and usually one calf is born; somet...

Sinhalese: Wal-ura. Tamil: Kadu-pandi. Description: A large adult male can grow to the height of almost 90 cm at the shoulder, considerably bigger than a female which is about 60 cm. The hair is very coarse and except for the mane along the spine of the older males, is rather sparse. “Tushes” of, perhaps, 18-20 cm are also found on old boars. The young are browner and have longitudinal stripes. Distribution: Found throughout the island wherever they can hold their own against the advances of man. In some locations it is an agricultural pest and is not therefore a protected animal. Habits: The females and young live in family parties, known as “sounders”, but the old boars are usually solitary or form small bachelor groups. They love marshy areas where they can wallow in the mud or root around searching for tubers etc. with much grunting and squealing. The wild boar is mainly vegetarian, but occasionally feeds on carrion, insects, snakes, ground birds, turtle’s e...

Sinhalese: Walaha, walahinna Tamil: Karadee Description: The average height of the adult male is about 90 cm at the shoulder, and the female 60 cm. They weight about 75 to 100 kgs. They have strong, powerful, fore-quarters, with long inwardly curved claws on the fore-feet which gives them a rather shuffling walk. They can, however move very fast when the need arises. Their black fur is particularly long and shaggy on the shoulders. Distribution: Bears are found in the forested areas of the low country dry zone. They have, however, been known to wander further afield during severe droughts, looking for water. Habits: Bears are normally found solitary, in pairs, or family groups of female with her cubs, and in captivity have been known to live for 21 years. They are extremely dangerous, attacking on sight, and this is probably due to their poor eye-sight and hearing which causes aggression at the sudden appearance of an imagined enemy. However, the sense of smell ...

Sinhalese: Kola-Diviya Tamil: Kadu-Poona. Description: This cat is a little smaller than a large domestic cat, being about 38-46 cm long over head and body. The male is generally larger than the female, and the fur is soft and smooth. Distribution: Found in small numbers throughout the island, frequenting jungle and scrubland. Habits: They appear to be solitary animals, found of climbing trees and usually nocturnal, spending the day lying up in some secluded spot. Their food consists mainly of small birds and animals. They have excellent eye-sight and hearing and a good sense of smell. Breeding: Usually 2, or possibly 3, kittens are born with their eyes closed. The female chooses a well concealed, dry, recess for the birth.

Sinhalese: Wal-Balala, Kalaa-Balala Tamil: Kadu-poona Description: This cat is a little less than twice the size of a large domestic cat, with a rather short tail, long legs and a few black hairs on the tips of its ears. The adult male tends to be larger than the female. Distribution: Found in very small numbers in open scrub jungle of the north and north-west as far south as Chilaw. Habits: They appear to be solitary animals, frequently moving about by day, and preying on small animals and birds. They are very fierce and almost untamable. Their hearing and eye-sight are excellent, and sense of smell good. Breeding: Very little is known, but there are probably 2 or 3 young born in a small concealed retreat amongst some rocks.

Sinhalese: Handun-Diviya Tamil: Koddy-Pulli Description: This cat is about the size of a large domestic cat and its fur is short and coarse. The colour varies, some being much darker than others, and the adult male is larger than the female. Distribution: Found in small numbers throughout the island except in the far north, frequenting jungles, scrub land and grassy swamps. Habits: They appear to be solitary animals, seldom climbing trees, and feeding on any animal, bird or fish they can catch. They are not entirely nocturnal, moving during the day as well, and can be very fierce and savage. Their hearing and eye-sight are excellent, and sense of smell good. Breeding: Very little is known in the wild, but it is probably similar to most wild cats. Breeds well in captivity.

Sinhalese: Diviya Tamil: Puli, Sarrugu-Puli Description: A large male can attain an overall length of about 2 meters; the female about 15 cm shorter. The black markings on the tawny coat are in the form of rosettes, and very occasionally referred to as a Black Panther. Distribution: Leopards are found in jungle areas throughout the island wherever they are undisturbed. Habits: The leopard is normally a solitary animal who wanders throughout its designated territory in search of prey. It hunts mostly during the evening or night, but sometimes in the day, and its main food appears to be the deers, sambhur, monkey and other small animals which it stalks or ambushes. Leopards have very acute hearing and eye-sight, but their sense of smell is poor, and their call, often heard at night, is similar to the sound of a person sawing wood. They have been known to live for 20 years in captivity. Breeding: The gestation period lasts for about 13 weeks, and normally 2-3 yo...

Sinhalese: Gona Tamil: Marrei or Komboo-marrei (stags) Description: This is the largest deer in the island, the adult male averaging about 137 cm at the shoulder; the female being considerably smaller. They have a coarse, shaggy coat, and only the stags have antlers. These grow to an average length of about 68 cm. and are usually shed once the rutting period has passed. The new antlers are covered with a very sensitive skin called “velvet” , which dies and peels off once the antlers are fully formed. Distribution: Found throughout the island wherever there are thick forests and jungles. Habits: Sambhur are solitary animals, but occasionally very small groups of females and young are seen. They are very much an animal of heavy forests and feed on leaves, grasses and some fruits. They appear to be largely nocturnal, but where they enjoy full protection, they can be seen lying in the shade of some trees, or feeding in the open during the day. The stags love to wall...

Sinhalese: Tith-muwa Tamil: Pulli-mann Description: The adult male grows to about 91 cm at the shoulder, the female being a little smaller. Only the stags have antlers which can grow to a length of 91 cm, but usually average out at about 76 cm. at the end of every rutting season the antlers fall off and new ones grow, each set being longer than the last. While the antlers are growing, they are covered in a very sensitive skin called ‘velvet’ which eventually dies and is rubbed off by the stag once the antlers attain their full length and hardness. At this stage the stag moults his light coloured coat and grows a beautiful dark one. And rutting starts. Distribution: Found in open jungle areas of the low-lands and foothills of the dry zone. Now-a-days they are mostly confined to National Parks and reserves. Habits: This deer is gregarious forming herds of anything from 6 to 100 of stags, hinds and their young. Sometimes the stags will form small groups of their ...

Sinhalese: Olu-Muwa, Welli-Muwa. Tamil: Mann, Sembli-Mann or Pulatar-Mann. Description: The adult male grows to about 60 cm at the shoulder; the female being about 45 cm. Their color is overall reddish brown and the buck has small antlers, and “tushes” which project about 1 cm from the upper jaw. Distribution: Found in the jungle areas throughout most of the island, but seems to prefer the lower hills. Habits: This little deer is very nervous and timid, and where it is persecuted by man, has become nocturnal. It is a solitary animal, seen singly or in pairs, and never far from cover. Its senses of smell, hearing and eye-sight are excellent, and its food consists of grasses and leaves. During the mating period, or when alarmed, it sometimes barks like a dog, and hence its common name. Breeding: The gestation period is about 6 months, and normally one young is born; sometimes two.

Sinhalese: Meeminna,Capita-meeminna or Wal miya Tamil: sarrugu-mann or Ukkulam Description: The mouse-deer stands about 20 cm at the shoulder and the females Appear to be slightly larger then the males. They have a rounded little body with Very slender legs, and neither sex has antlers. In the males, the upper canine teeth From small visible tushes. Distribution: Found in the jungles throughout the lowlands and lower hills. Habits: The mouse-deer is mainly nocturnal spending the day lying up in some Secluded patch of under growth. it is very timid, she and solitary animal. If chased By an enemy, it has the ability to scramble up small creeper covered trees, or Inside a large hollow tree trunk, to hide. They on grasses, leaves, fruits and berries. Breeding: The female gives birth to one or maybe two young, in a secluded crevice among rocks and undergrowth, or in a hollow tree trunk.

Sinhalese: Dhara Pimbura, Ran Pimbura, Pimbura Tamil: Periya Pambu, Malai Pambu, Kaloodai Viriyan. Description: A huge snake which can grow to 8 meters, but usually average about 5.5 meters. Pythons have teeth, a very sensitive tongue, and jaws which can separate to enable them to swallow large prey. Distribution: Found in the jungles of the low country; occasionally in the lower hills hills and often near water. Habits: The python is diurnal, nocturnal and solitary. They swim well, can climb trees and are not venomous. Their food consists of small to medium sized animals which they catch using their teeth, kill by constriction and swallow whole once once the prey is dead. If the meal is substantial the python does not need to feed again for 4 or more months. They have good sight over short distances, are deaf, but can feel vibrations through the ground. Their extremely sensitive tongues can sense loud noises and convey smells to the scent organ in the roof of t...

Sinhalese: Thalagoya Tamil: Udumbu Description: This monitor has a general color of brownish-grey with some dark speckling. They have long, forked tongues, and grow to an average overall length of 138 cm. Distribution: Found throughout the lowlands and lower hills, preferring the dry zone. Habits: These monitors are normally solitary and diurnal, spending the night in a burrow. They are good tree climbers, and if per sued can drop to the ground from a height of about 14 meters. They spend much of the day digging and foraging for the snails, small vertebrates, crabs, frogs, eggs and young rodents on which they feed; they also scavenge. When the need arises they can swim, but they do not take to water as readily as the Water Monitor. These lizards are also able to raise their fore parts off the ground and stand on their hind legs and tail to fight and obtain a better view. As with the Water Monitor, their tail is a powerful weapon of defense. Breeding: The fem...

Sinhalese: Kabaragoya Description: This Monitor has a general color of dark grey-black with yellow markings. They have long forked tongues and grow to an overall length of 200 cm. Distribution: Found throughout the low country wherever there is water. Habits: These monitors are solitary and enjoy pandanus groves near the seashore where they feed upon crabs, turtle’s eggs and sand rats. They also eat snakes, beetles, centipedes etc, and are useful scavengers. They are good but slow swimmers, and use their tail as a means of propulsion. As with the land monitor, they are able to raise themselves on their hind legs and tail when they engage in male to male rivalry fights or need to see over the undergrowth or long grass; their tails can also be used as a powerful weapon of defense. Breeding: The female lays between 9 and 25 oval soft-shelled eggs, in hollow trees or in holes near the river banks.

Sinhalese: Pita-gatteya, Gatta-kimbula Tamil: Semmukhan-muthelei Description: The Estuarine Crocodiles are olive-brown, suffused with yellow and spotted with black. They have been known to grow to about 5.5 meters. Distribution: Found in the estuaries of the larger rivers and coastal lagoons. Occasionally they swim round by the sea from one river mouth to another, but usually prefer brackish water to salt water. Breeding: The female builds a mound of dead vegetable matter about 2 to 3 meters in diameter and 1 meter high at the water’s edge, and lays her egg in the centre. At the same time she excavates two trenches on either side, in which she lies and guard the nest. The incubation period is probably about two and one half months. General Description and Habits of Both Species: Crocodiles have values in their ears and nostrils, and have a flap of skin at the back of the throat which closes and thus enables them to submerge with their mouths open. The Swamp...

Sinhalese: Hale-Kimbula, Ala-kimbula Tamil: Kulathi-muthele Description: The Swamp Crocodiles are greenish olive with dark markings, and have been known to grow to almost 4 meters. The Swamp Crocodile is depicted opposite. Distribution: Found in coastal lagoons, swamps and waterways in the low country. Breeding: The female digs a hole about 50 cm deep in a bank, usually of sand and lays anything up to 30 eggs. The older the female, the larger the size and number of eggs. The incubation period is about 60 days, and the mother guards the nest and the young when they hatch.

Sinhalese: Kiri Ibba Tamil: Pal amai Description: These terrapins grow to about 35 cm in length. They have a soft “shell”, a short proboscis and teeth that can give a good bite. Distribution: Found in swamp and water-holes of the low country, rare in the hills, prefers the coastal plain. Occasionally frequents slightly brackish water. Habits: These terrapins spend a lot of time basking on rocks etc. they swim well, can burrow under mud and can remain submerged for up to 20 minutes. Their food consists of frogs, fishes, crustacean, worms, snails, carrion etc. and at night they forage on land. Breeding: The female lays several batches of 2 to 6 round, hard-shelled eggs, within a few weeks of each other.

Sinhalese: Gal ibba, Goo ibba Tamil: Kal amai, Pe amai or Karuppu amai Description: There are 2 races of this terrapin which differ in size. The larger dry zone race grows to about 35 cm in length and the smaller wet zone race grows to about 25 cm. They are hard “shelled” and give off a rather unpleasant smell. Distribution: Found on waterways of the lowlands and medium hills. Habits: These terrapin spend many hours during the day basking on rocks and clods of earth beside reservoirs, water-holes etc. They swim very well, forage on land at night, are omnivorous and scavenge. Breeding: The female lays from 3-8 oval hard –shelled eggs.

Sinhalese: Mayvara ibba, Hooniam ibba, Vairan ibba, Tharuka ibba, Mukalan ibba, Makaral ibba or Vatekeya ibba. Tamil: Katu amai, Katu Petti amai Description: This is the only true tortoise in Sri Lanka and it is listed as an endangered species. The shell has a beautiful “star-like” pattern of brown and yellow, and the average length of the adult is about 25 cm along the under shell. Distribution: Found in scrub land of the low country dry zone, preferring the coastal areas. Habits: The star tortoise is a solitary animal, and on the whole crepuscular, spending the heat of the mid-day resting in the shade. They are fairly regular in their habits and retire to the same patch of shade every day. The food is mainly vegetable matter, grasses, fruits, flowers and sometimes the young of the West African Snail (Achatina fulica). They have excellent sight and smell, but it is believed that their sense of hearing is nil or almost so. Breeding: During the matin...

Sinhalese: Nariya Tamil: Narie, Kulla-Narie Description: On average the overall length of the adult male, which is larger than the female, is about 100 cm. It is very dog-like in appearance with a bushy tail. Distribution: Found in the wilder areas over most of the island, but prefers the lowlands of the dry zone. Habits: The jackal is often seen in pairs or small family parties. Although they are largely nocturnal in areas close to human habitation, they are often seen during the day in reserves where they enjoy full protection. They eat carrion and any animal they are able to kill, also some fruits and berries. In captivity they have been known to live for about 12 to 15 years. Breeding: The gestation period is about 60 to 63 days, and 3 to 4 pups are born. The female usually chooses a cavern amongst rocks or a hollow tree, or digs a short tunnel in a ravine.

Sinhalese: Hawa Tamil: Mussal Description: This is the only specie of this family found in Sri Lanka, there are no rabbits. The main characteristic of this hare is the black patch on the back of its neck. The length of the head and body is 45 to 50 cm. and the females tend to be larger than the males. Distribution: Found throughout the island in scrub and the surrounding grasslands. Habits: The hare is mainly, nocturnal, spending the day lying up in its “form” in some secluded place. In reserves where it is unmolested by man it is often seen during the day. They are solitary animals, only seen in a small group if the feeding is particularly good, and this consists of grasses and leaves. The senses of sight, hearing and smell are excellent, and when confronted by an enemy, they usually rely on their speed to make good their escape. Breeding: The gestation period is about one month and usually two young are born, sometimes only one. The young are born fully fur...

Sinhalese: Maha-Wawula, Loku-Wawula Tamil: Periya-vava Description: This is the largest bat having a wing-span of about 122 cm. The arms and legs from a framework for the skin which constitutes the wings, but the head and body are covered with fur. Distribution: Found throughout the island except in the highest hills. Habits: The flying fox is nocturnal, having excellent night vision; it has no means of echolocation. They roost during the day hanging upside down in the tops of large trees in huge noisy colonies of many hundreds. In the evening they leave one by one on their nightly foraging, returning at dawn. Their food consists of the juices and pulp of fruits and flowers, having chewed the flesh, the solids are discarded. Breeding: The gestation period is said to be about 140-150 days and one young is born. While it is still small, it accompanies its mother on her nightly flights, clinging to the fur of her breast.

Sinhalese: Ittawa, Panduru-Ittawa Tamil: Mallam-Pandi Description: The overall length of the adult male is about 92 cm, the female being a little smaller. The forepart is largely covered in coarse hair with a crest of long bristles, and the hind part and tail are covered by quills. Very rarely porcupines have been seen where the normal white part of the quills is reddish. Distribution: Found in the wilder areas of the whole island, but prefers the low country. Habits: The porcupine is entirely nocturnal spending the day lying up in some secluded rocky outcrop amongst dense undergrowth, or in a deep burrow. Sometimes two or more will share the same hillside, departing in different directions at night to feed on fruits, leaves, roots and bark. Their defense is to raise and rattle their quills, stamping their hind feet, grunting and charging backwards at the enemy. Breeding: The gestation period does not seem to be known and usually in Sri Lanka one young is born...

Sinhalese: Kabal-Lawa Tamil: Alangu Description: The overall length of an adult male is about 140 cm, the female being about 91 cm. They are covered with large overlapping horny scales, and the forefeet have long, stout, curved claws for digging. The tongue is very long and sticky, and they have no teeth. Distribution: Found throughout the lowlands and lower hills wherever there are termites. Habits: The pangolins are solitary and entirely nocturnal animals spending the day curled up in their deep, damp burrows which can be as long as 3 meters. Their senses of sight and hearing seem to be poor, but the sense of smell is excellent, being used to ‘sniff’ out the nests of termites upon which they feed. Having dug down, they use their eggs and larvae. Pangolins have prehensile tails and are good tree climbers, which enables them to rob the large leaf-nests of the big red ant. Their only form of defense is to roll themselves into a tight ball, which is held firm by v...

Sinhalese: Unahapuluwa Tamil: Thewangu Description: There are 4 races of the slender loris, each differing slightly in color and size. In two of the races, the female is larger than the male, and in the other two the sexes are similar in size. They range from about 18.5 cm to 25.5 cm and their fur is soft and wooly. Distribution: Found throughout the island in forests and jungles, but no-where common. Habits: The slender Loris is entirely nocturnal, and lives in pairs or singly. It spends the day curled up in a hollow branch or amongst the foliage. Their movements are slow and stealthy, and their food consists of small birds, insects, lizards, tree frogs etc. and occasionally fruit, but they never eat small mammals. Breeding: Very little is known. The gestation period is said to be at least 3 months, probably more and usually one young is born, sometimes two. They go everywhere with the mother clinging to the fur of her abdomen.