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Common Name : Asiatic Dewflower     -       Scientific Name : Murdannia spirata (Commelinaceae)       -       Other Name : Thana Pala (S)
Kali Villu
08/31/2013
Mahapatessa
05/12/2013

This is a very common indigenous species that is found in lowlands and foothills up to an altitude of about 1200 meters. Thirteen species of this genus are reported from Sri Lanka.

This species is also found in India, Bhutan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, pacific Islands and Java.

The conservation status of the species under reference is regarded as Least Concerned (National Red List 2012).

This species is found in a wide variety of wet habitats such as paddy fields, riverbeds, lakeshores, banks of water bodies and marshy areas. It is often gregarious and forms distinct clumps or zones around drying pools.

I have observed this species at many dry zone areas throughout the country.

In Wilpattu these flowers can be seen year around close to the villus. However after the rains these would compete with the pipeworts (Kok Mota) for space as they cover the open fields around most water bodies in the park.