Fifteen Common Trees

Be able to identify 15 useful trees (of economic value). Know where they naturally grow, their use, their general shapes, the shapes of the leaves, Botanical names etc. and record in your Log book.

This requirement is currently being updated by the Administration. Please refer to the ones we have updated in the sub section.

1. Coconut Tree

2. Banana Tree

3. "Amba" Mango Tree

4. Rubber Tree

5. Papaya Tree

6. Mahogani Tree

7. Teak Tree

8. Bamboo Tree

9. Jack Tree

10. Kithul "Palm Syrup" Tree

11. Sugar Cane

12. Cinnamon Tree

13. Anoda Tree

14. Cashew Tree

The island of Sri Lanka with only a land area of around 65500 sq. kM, is well endowed with the mother Nature's blessings, one can say. The whole island is one mass of land where the plant life is very rich and vibrant with all shades of Green colour leaves. There are around 3500 Flora species in Sri Lanka and about one quarter of that is endemic to Sri Lanka.

The vegetation types of the island mainly varies with the climate and the topography. The rainfall and the temperature are the most important factors of the climatic conditions.

There are four major zones of vegetation types in Sri Lanka.

• The Arid Zone has a temperature between 32-36 degrees Celsius. The Rainfall is below 100 mm per year and the Altitude is less than 300 meters. The forest type is referred as Tropical Thorn Scrub.

• The Dry Zone has a temperature between 28-32 degrees Celsius. The Rainfall is between 1000-1500 mm per year and the Altitude is less than 500 meters. The forest type is referred as Tropical Dry Mixed Evergreen.

• The Intermediate Zone has a temperature between 24-28 degrees Celsius. The Rainfall is between 1250-2000 mm per year and the Altitude is between 500-1500 meters. The forest type is referred as Tropical Moist Evergreen.

• The Wet Zone has a temperature between 16-28 degrees Celsius. The Rainfall is above 2000 mm per year and the Altitude range is divided in to three categories.

The vegetation type in the altitude range of between 300-1000 meters is called as Tropical Lowland Wet Evergreen forests.

The vegetation type in the altitude range of between 900-1500 meters is called as Tropical Sub Montane forests.

The vegetation type in the altitude range of above 1500 meters is called as Tropical Upper Montane forests.