A New Plant Species Named in Honour of University of Peradeniya

A research group including Mr. Indrakheela Madola (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala (University of Peradeniya) and Prof. Kapila Yakandawala (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka) who works on the Taxonomy of genus Lagenandra have found a new plant species, with two varieties, from the wet zone of Sri Lanka. They named this new plant species as Lagenandra peradeniyae in honour of University of Peradeniya and the two intraspecific varieties as L. peradeniyae var peradeniyae and L. peradeniyae var speciosa. This plant group is locally known as "Ketala/Kethala".

As the newly found species is restricted to a lowland rainforest patch in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, it is considered to be a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to IUCN Red Listing criterion.

Lagenandra peradeniyae var peradeniyae

Lagenandra peradeniyae var speciosa

Mr. Indrakheela Madola

Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala

Prof. Kapila Yakandawala