List of common trees and shrubs of Sri Lanka

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Location of Sri Lanka

The common trees and shrubs of Sri Lanka are a part of the diverse plant wildlife of Sri Lanka.

Contents

The following list provides the 704 species of common trees and shrubs of flora of Sri Lanka under 95 families. The list is according to A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka, by Mark Ashton, Savitri Gunatilleke, Neela de Zoysa, M.D. Dassanayake, Nimal Gunatilleke and Siril Wijesundera. [1]

Native species are denoted as (N), Introduced species as (I)

Division: Pteridophyta

Family: Cyatheaceae - Scaly tree ferns

Division: Cycadophyta

Family: Cycadaceae - Queen Sago

Division: Pinophyta

Family: Araucariaceae - Araucarians

Family: Cupressaceae - Cypresses

Family: Pinaceae - Pines

Division: Anthophyta

Subdivision: Monocotyledons

Family: Asparagaceae

Family: Poaceae‡ - Grasses

Family: Musaceae - Bananas

Family: Strelitziaceae - Traveller's palm

Family: Arecaceae - Palm trees

Family: Pandanaceae - Screw palms

Division: Anthophyta

Subdivision: Magnoliids

Family: Acanthaceae - Acanthus

Family: Annonaceae - Custard apples

Family: Magnoliaceae - Magnolias

Family: Monimiaceae

Family: Myristicaceae - Nutmegs

Division: Anthophyta

Subdivision: Dicotyledons

Family: Anacardiaceae - Cashews

Family: Anisophylleaceae

Family: Apocynaceae - Dogbanes

Family: Aquifoliaceae - Hollys

Family: Araliaceae

Family: Aristolochiaceae - Birthworts

Family: Asteraceae - Composites

Family: Bignoniaceae - Bignonias

Family: Bixaceae - Achiotes

Family: Boraginaceae - Forget-me-nots

Family: Boraginaceae

Family: Buxaceae

Family: Calophyllaceae - Chestnuts

Family: Cannabaceae

Family: Capparaceae - Capers

Family: Caricaceae - Papayas

Family: Casuarinaceae - Sheoaks

Family: Celastraceae - Bittersweets

Family: Centroplacaceae

Family: Chloranthaceae

Family: Clusiaceae

Family: Combretaceae - White mangroves

Family: Connaraceae

Family: Cornaceae

Family: Crypteroniaceae

Family: Daphniphyllaceae

Family: Dichapetalaceae

Family: Dilleniaceae

Family: Dipterocarpaceae - Dipterocarps

Family: Ebenaceae - Ebonys

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Family: Ericaceae - Heathers

Family: Erythroxylaceae

Family: Euphorbiaceae - Spurges

Family: Fabaceae - Legumes

Family: Gentianaceae

Family: Goodeniaceae

Family: Hernandiaceae

Family: Icacinaceae

Family: Lamiaceae - Sages

Family: Lauraceae - Laurels

Family: Lecythidaceae

Family: Loganiaceae

Family: Lythraceae

Family: Malvaceae - Mallows

Family: Melastomataceae

Family: Meliaceae - Mahoganys

Family: Moraceae - Figs

Family: Moringaceae - Drumsticks

Family: Muntingiaceae

Family: Myrtaceae - Myrtles

Family: Nyctaginaceae - Four o'clocks

Family: Ochnaceae

Family: Olacaceae

Family: Oleaceae - Olives

Family: Pentaphylacaceae

Family: Phyllanthaceae

Family: Pittosporaceae

Family: Primulaceae - Primroses

Family: Proteaceae

Family: Putranjivaceae

Family: Rhamnaceae - Buckthorns

Family: Rhizophoraceae - True mangroves

Family: Rosaceae - Roses & Berries

Family: Rutaceae - Citrus

Family: Sabiaceae

Family: Salicaceae - Willows

Family: Salvadoraceae - Toothbrushes

Family: Santalaceae - Sandalwoods

Family: Sapindaceae - Soapberries

Family: Sapotaceae

Family: Simaroubaceae

Family: Solanaceae - Nightshades

Family: Staphyleaceae

Family: Stemonuraceae

Family: Symplocaceae - Sweetleafs

Family: Tetramelaceae

Family: Theaceae - Tea plants

Family: Thymelaeaceae

Family: Ulmaceae

Family: Urticaceae - Nettles

Family: Verbenaceae- Verbenas

The presence of following bamboo plants within Sri Lanka is still in doubt.

Family Poaceae

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References

  1. Ashton, M; Gunatilleke, S; de Zoysa, N.; Dassanayake, M.D.; Gunatilleke, N.; Wijesundera, S. (1997). A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka (PDF). Colombo, Sri Lanka: WHT Publications for Wildlife Heritage Site of Sri Lanka.