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The plants in this genus are usually referred to as Yellow-eyed Grass. Four species of this genus are recorded in the country.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Vulnerable (National Red List 2012).

The conservation status of the other three species is as follows.  X. capensis is a rare species and the conservation status is considered as endangered.  X. indica is considered as near threatened and X. pauciflora as least concerned. Feathered Yellow-eye is found in lowland marshy areas. Other than in Sri Lanka this species is reported from Australia, New Guinea, Hawaii Bangladesh, Bhutan, Philippines, Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore and Vietnam.

This species grows up to an altitude of about 750 in open marshy plains. This is not a species commonly found throughout the park. I have only observed these flowers around Kokkare Villu and Kudapatessa. In these two localities they grow in large communities. The flowers open out by mid morning and until early evening where they retract these golden yellow flowers create a breath taking sight for any visitor. I once managed to photograph a leopard among these flowers at Kudapatessa.