flora

Classification
Kingdom : Plantae Order : Asparagales
Family : Orchidaceae Genus : Rhynchostylis
Species: : Rhynchostylis retusa Blume
Common Name (English): fox tail orchid
Common Name (Sinhala) : “Gurulu raja”
Flora of the Week
Source: Redlist 2007
Special features
Flower of This plant is named as the provincial flower of the Uwa Province. The plant can be easily identified by its attractive inflorescences.
Distribution
The plant in indigenous to Sri Lanka and can be found in Eastern and Uwa provinces on large trees of dry zone low country savannahs. It is also found in countries like India, Java, Malaysia and Myanmar. This is the only plant belongs to genus Rhynchostylis in Sri Lanka.
Description
It is a epiphytic orchid. Stem is woody and up to 25 cm in height. Stem is obscured by crowded leaf bases. Leaves are long, about 15 – 37cm spreading to either side of the stem alternatively, curving downwards. Inflorescence is a compact drooping racemes. Flowers small up to 2 cm broad numerous, white spotted with violet pink tightly packed all round and obscuring the pendulous 20 -30 cm long stalk. Flowers can be seen from November to April.
Threatened status
Vulnerable VU.
Users
Plant is grown in gardens due to the attractive nature of the inflorescence. The plant also collected for medicinal value.
Conservation Status
This plant in protected under Fauna and Flora Protected Ordinance and CITES Convention Appendix II.
References:
Dassanayake, M. D. & Fosberg, F. R. (eds.) (1980 - 1991). Revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon, Vols. II. Amerind Publ., New Delhi.
Redlist 2007
Kottegoda.S.R(1994). Flowers of Sri Lanka.The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka.
Beautiful wild flowers of Sri Lanka,(1995) Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya , Sri Lanka.
Fernando M, Wijesundara S and Fernando S (2003) Orchids of Sri Lanka, International Union for Conservation of Nature

Sri Lanka to launch Litro Gas tomorrow

Sri Lanka will officially launch the state owned LP gas company Litro tomorrow.
The Director General of Government Enterprises Department Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda told the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation that full ownership of Shell Lanka Gas Limited will be handed over to the government tomorrow.
The government that owned 49% of Shell Gas acquired the rest 51% shares from Shell Gas Lanka Limited for 63 million US dollars.
A new board of directors is also to be appointed tomorrow. Additional Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath has been appointed chairman of the new company while Piyadasa Kudagallage acts as Chief Executive Officer.
Litro gas is owned by the government through state-owned Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.

Sri Lanka's corporate sector joins 'Deyata Sevena' tree planting campaign

Many private sector organizations in Sri Lanka Monday (Nov 15) joined the government' initiative to plant 1.1 million trees island wide within 11 minutes.

Top managers of many corporate giants along with their employees were seen planting trees ceremonially at their business premises yesterday while government establishments conducted the countrywide program led by the Ministry of Environment.

The program has been organized by the Ministry to mark President Mahinda Rajapaksa's birthday and inauguration of his second term of office on the 19th November 2010. The program aimed to plant 1.1 million trees within 11 minutes from 10:07 a.m. to 10:18 a.m. on November 15. However, with the enthusiasm shown by the public to this program, it is believed that number of trees planted has exceeded this limit, reports said.

General Manager of Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo, Rohith Kosla and hotel employees are seen here joining hands yesterday for the Sri Lanka's largest tree planting program.

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