Nature in Sri Lanka

Rice terraces at Watapaluwa village near Kandy, central Sri Lanka.

A curious Sri Lankan cow.

Egrets watching the rice harvest in Watapaluwa village, central Sri Lanka, eager to gobble up the insects that get disturbed by the harvesting.

In most parts of Sri Lanka, rice is still harvested by cutting with a hand scythe. Egrets watch, gobbling up the insects that become available.

Dying flower of a touch-me-not plant (mimosa pudica). The flower is beautiful, but the plant is an invasive problem for farmers in many tropical countries. Few grazing animals will eat it because the plant reacts to touch and vibration by closing its leaves and the stems have sharp spines on them. I have seen this plant advertised in the west as a "rare curiosity" for growing indoors. It is not rare, it is prolific in Asia and South America and is a constant problem to farmers and market gardeners. If it ever adapts to Western climates, farmers and gardeners there will regret it.

Flower of a touch-me-not plant (mimosa pudica). The flower is beautiful, but the plant is an invasive problem for farmers in many tropical countries. Few grazing animals will eat it because the plant reacts to touch and vibration by closing its leaves and the stems have sharp spines on them.. I have seen this plant advertised in the west as a "rare curiosity" for growning indoors. It is not rare, it is prolific in Asia and South America and is a constant problem to farmers and market gardeners. If it ever adapts to Western climates, farmers and gardeners there will regret it.

"I love you my darling!" Banyan trees embracing another tree in Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Eventually the banyans will strangle the host tree and it will die. The banyans will then also die as they have nothing to feed on but they will have passed on their genes through seeds. These type of banyan are therefore also known as "strangler figs". Murder in slow motion!

Exposed tree roots on a roadside embankment.

Sedge bush. The leaves of this plant were up to 2 metres long.