The Flora at the Udawattakele Forest Reserve
In 2013, a survey identified 58 indigenous tree species (7 endemic), 61 indigenous shrub and small tree species (7 endemic), 31 indigenous herbs (3 endemic) of which 12 are orchids, and 57 indigenous lianas, creepers and vines (4 endemic).
The forest features an emergent layer, a canopy and an understory. Because of the dense two upper layers, understory is not present everywhere, especially in areas with the invasive balsam of Peru tree, (Myroxylon balsamum), Mahogany trees, (Swietenia macrophylla) and Devil's Ivy.
Indigenous species and sub-species:
1.Acronychia pedunculata (Sinhalese: "ankenda")
Acronychia pedunculata is a large shrub or small tree of the understory, gaps and fringes of low country and lower hill tropical forests of tropical Asia.
Leaves: elliptic to suboblong, often with tapered base. Twigs more or less angular, glabrous. Flowers: greenish white; I-acillary, corymbose panicles, about 14 mm (0.6 in) across in inflorescences of 4–24 cm (2–9 in) wide.
2.Artocarpus nobilis ("wal del")/Breadfruit
Artocarpus nobilis, the Ceylon breadfruit, is a tree species in the family Moraceae. It is endemic to south western regions of Sri Lanka. It is known as "Wal dhel - වල් දෙල්" , "Baedi dhel - බැදි දෙල්" or as "Hingala dhel - හිංගල දෙල්"[3] by local people.
3.Artocarpus heterophyllus ("kos")/Jackfruit
The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family (Moraceae).The jackfruit is the largest tree fruit, reaching as much as 55 kg (120 pounds) in weight, 90 cm (35 inches) in length, and 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter. A mature jackfruit tree produces some 200 fruits per year, with older trees bearing up to 500 fruits in a year. The jackfruit is a multiple fruit composed of hundreds to thousands of individual flowers, and the fleshy petals of the unripe fruit are eaten.
4.Caryota urens ("kitul")
Caryota urens is a species of flowering plant in the palm family, native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Malaysia (perhaps elsewhere in Indo-Malayan region), where they grow in fields and rainforest clearings, it is regarded as introduced in Cambodia. Common names in English include solitary fishtail palm, kitul palm, toddy palm, wine palm, sago palm and jaggery palm. Its leaf is used as fishing rod after trimming the branches of the leaf and drying. It is one of the sugar palms.
5.Bombax ceiba ("katu imbul")
Bombax ceiba, like other trees of the genus Bombax, is commonly known as cotton tree.
This Asian tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage. It produces a capsule which, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton. Its trunk bears spikes to deter attacks by animals. Although its stout trunk suggests that it is useful for timber, its wood is too soft to be very useful.
6.Canarium zeylanicum
7.Cinnamomum verum ("kurundu", cinnamon)
8.Ficus virens
9.Filicium decipiens ("pihimbiya")
10.Aphananthe cuspidata ("wal-munamal")
11.Goniothalamus gardneri
12.Haldina cordifolia
13.Hunteria zeylanica
14.Mallotus tetracoccus
15.Mesua ferrea ("na", iron-wood)
16.Michelia champaca ("sapu")
17.Mangifera zeylanica ("atamba")
18.Neoclitsea cassia ("dawul kurundu”, wild cinnamon),
19.Glycosmis pentaphylla (orangeberry, doda-pana)
About half of the forest, mostly on the southwestern side, is heavily invaded by exotic tree and creeper species. In these areas very little native vegetation and fauna is able to survive; see the Threats section below. In total 16 exotic tree species grow in the forest (7 of which are invasive), as well as 6 exotic shrub species (one, Coffea, is invasive), 6 exotic liana and creeper species (of which three are invasive), and 6 exotic herbs (one of which is invasive).
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