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Species distribution

Species distribution across the districts

The highest number of species as well as the highest species density are found in the wet zone districts followed by the intermediate and dry zones. Species richness in the wet and intermediate zones can be attributed to favourable climatic conditions and the limited availability of land resources in these areas. Table 9 shows species distribution in the 23 administrative districts.

Table 9. Distribution of species by district

Species name Category  Ampara  Anuradhapura   Badulla    Batticaloa  Colombo    Galle        Gampaha      Hambantota    Kegalle      Kalutara     Kandy   Kurunegala
Cocos nucifera TF 294 740 896 581 201 664 191 909 766 347 1 344 331 5 983 263 2 114 070

2 933 130

1 121 499 596 445 14 819 721
Hevea brasiliensis T     32 638   700 904 473 074 1 033 769 2 5 100 631 6 118 246 18 546 207 792
Artocarpus heterophyllus TF 156 962 290 289 774 348 17 477 189 411 617 912 504 232 769 287 1 428 971 707 865 921 442 960 332
Areca catechu F 22 549 21 203 3 941 899 536 123 410 254 106 404 792 152 447 1 354 372 152 969 740 489 361 958
Swietenia macrophylla T 9 1 652 9 525   21 047 94 880 159 430 4 913 5 204 782 210 355 143 372 255 520
Alstonia macrophylla T 17 180 16 600 11 599   50 416 1 068 754 210 415 20 887 1 949 151 789 288 361 407 81 689
Mangifera indica TF 174 743 465 356 354 161 38 011 163 071 263 360 381 062 396 889 366 781 177 553 326 843 912 947
Albizia molucana T 124 600   82 086   17 139 3 045 024 10 313 182 688 616 913 3 524 390 562 95 756
Eucalyptus spp. T 8 732 168 143 1 939 025 12 475 28 18  113 6 255 310 609  969 343 519 4 077
Tectona grandis T 121 947 258 026 131 732 6 292 8 856 11 075 133 550 221 386 159 893 10 477 56 818 864 399
Azadirachta indica T 107 996 666 367 40 464 44 222 8 268 2 711 23 235 310 966 3 484 5 401 13 334 917 815
Anacardium occidentale TF 10 584 141 339 24 702 21 160 19 286 30 396 363 316 248 480 137 517 35 045 38 773 970 412
Citrus aurantifolia F 198 971 245 812 120 297 3 575 29 185 22 221 51 650 103 602 78 071 102 415 46 089 327 397
Melia dubia T 109 856 8 616 113 318   36 433 4 013

256 386

195 269 544 060 117 175 116 399 267 998
Drypetes sepiaria T 12 887 413 671           18 082       7 658
Psidium guajva F 28 209 215 724 128 912 8 226 34 801 82 674 179 917 63 156 87 128 126 516 77 962 250 144
Caryota urens TF 3 315 17 190 198 432 6 956 4 445 43 878 16 074 25 476 668 168 44 526 167 668 40 919
Chloroxylon swietenia T 144 292 327 873 96 520 3 421       144 928       41 614
Citrus cinensis F 68 509 144 213 139 290 6 351 7 752 32 045 18 522 122 049 41 516 22 074 90 662 229 257
Grevillea robusta T 24   994 229           2 790   215 348  
Bambusa vulgaris T 17 602 972 25 863   23 609 7 900 204 852 73 286 67 943 26 722 150 397 49 802
Hevea brasiliensis T   1 300 54 443         15 800     14 280  
Berrya cordifolia T 40 658 176 404 11 667 2 125       22 785       514 174
Nephelium lappaceum TF 68    485   48 418 37 446 234 122 7 877 295 102 215 391 27 106 31 935
Toona sinensis T     451 538           71 106   135 964  
Grewia damine T 252 021 137 926 27 440         9 698       34 128

Species name Category Mulativu Monaragala Mannar Matale Matara N'Eliya Polonnaruwa Puttalam Ratnapura Tricomalle Vavunia TOTAL
Cocos nucifera TF 8 412 786 512 9 372 1 503 995 1 483 723 96 634 351 861 1 789 837 1 195 674 110 027 16 902 38 616 649
Hevea brasiliensis T   73 779   246 778 263 216 22 300     2 809 813     17 101 488
Artocarpus heterophyllus TF 1 655 487 738 805 776 470 487 840 396 074 127 437 93 718 709 738 11 543 5 596 10 437 142
Areca catechu F   393 122   682 307 299 914 137 249 8 936 3 862 633 204 3 003 5 617 9 697 944
Swietenia macrophylla T   19 010   51 143 86 325 14 136 387 1 225 132 505 7 25 6 410 248
Alstonia macrophylla T   7 190   49 847 523 925 106 585   989 702 364     5 968 286
Mangifera indica TF 3 040

314 753

2 784 232 006 193 042 140 543 136 032 179 329 357 215 19 966 8 201 5 607 688
Albizia molucana T   184 376   59 000 297 366 244 352   1 320 252 562     5 607 581
Eucalyptus spp. T   45 012   117 316 15 916 1 049 067 4 245 3 864 30 826 238 744 4 061 191
Tectona grandis T 44 625 501 725   327 605

65 081

11 240 71 277 137 780 134 056 13 672 2 097 3 293 609
Azadirachta indica T 1 666 152 441 2 318 154 866 19 466 12 614 198 739 302 951 18 435 30 287 6 886 3 044 932
Anacardium occidentale TF   89 511   60 037 64 452 1 766 79 952 496 103 164 050 4 032 327 3 001 240
Citrus aurantifolia F   677 613 1 224 98 669 13 468 6 131 80 073

79 289

191 198 3 299 4 138 2 484 387
Melia dubia T   55 431   228 256 30 204 8 148 6 344 13 496 237 793 50   2 349 245
Drypetes sepiaria T 120 1 510 931   6 577     34 251 68 780   253 180 2 073 390
Psidium guajva F   91 821 2 271 87 711 33 581 45 149 44 371 93 062 98 777 6 946 2 968 1 790 026
Caryota urens TF   63 050   75 613 74 420 81 500  677  253 218 406 41 9 1 751 016
Chloroxylon swietenia T 396 410 003 249 166 749 2   39 088 88 506 16 788 8 092 1 382 1 489 903
Citrus cinensis F   140 124 953 103 847 17 681 37 032 56 691 76 232 106 261 2 992 4 330 1 468 383
Grevillea robusta T       52 248 1 420 191 646     3 016     1 460 721
Bambusa vulgaris T   16 344   43 782 43 335 3 055 891 8 102 568 316   300 1 333 073
Hevea brasilienses  T   392 673   771 822     250 2 317       1 252 885
Berrya cordifolia T 519 70 700

 

203 556   87 46 567 79 266 8 785 8 018 155 1 185 466
Nephelium lappaceum TF   1 195   8 866 62 371 4 913 22 1 948 200 655     1 177 920
Toona sinensis T       2 415   360 084     2 664     1 023 771
Grewia damine T   114 480   410 073     157 9 202 6 500     1 001 625

Species distribution across the climatic zones

The wet zone receives an annual rainfall of over 2 500 mm while the intermediate zone, which lies between the dry and wet zones, receives an annual rainfall of 1 000 to 2 500 mm. The dry zone, which has a prolonged dry period of about eight months, has an annual rainfall of less than 1 000 mm. Natural vegetation has a distinct variation among these climatic zones; this is also common to the home gardens species. Figure 6 shows the climatic zones of Sri Lanka.


Although the wet zone is significantly smaller in extent than the dry zone, the total number of trees recorded within the wet zone is much higher. Table 10 shows species distribution by climatic zone. Of the most common 25 species, in terms of frequency of occurrence, 21 are found in all three climatic zones.


 Table 10. Species distribution by climatic zones
Species name Family Category Climatic zone     TOTAL    
Local Botanical     Dry Intermediate Wet  
Coconut Cocos nucifera Palme TF 4 076 864 19 374 595 15 165 190 38 616 649
Rubber Hevea brasiliensis Euphorbiaceae T   546 462 16 555 026 17 101 488
Jak Artocarpus heterophyllus Moraceae TF 939 897 3 766 554 5 730 691 10 437 142
Arecanut Areca catechu Palme F 122 326 5 525 287 4 050 331 9 697 944
Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla Meliaceae T 17 725 345 318 6 047 205 6 410 248
Alstonia Alstonia macrophylla Apocynaceae T 18 769 179 834 5 769 683 5 968 286
Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae TF 1305 958 2098 463 2 203 267 5 607 688
Albizzia_1 Albizia molucana Fabaceae T   719 168 4 888 413 5 607 581
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp Myrtaceae T 223 379 2283 664 1 554 148 4 061 191
Teak Tectona grandis Verbenaceae T 1041 644 1798 222 453 743 3 293 609
Margosa Azadirachta indica Meliaceae T 1940 525 1021 131 83 276 3 044 932
Cashew Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae TF 870 053 1347 071 784 116 3 001 240
Lime Citrus aurantifolia Rutaceae F 711 238 1277 922 495 227 2 484 387
Lunumidella Melia dubia Meliaceae T 113 111 941 047 1 295 087 2 349 245
Weera Drypetes sepiaria Euphorbiaceae T 1311 965 761 425   2 073 390
Guava Psidium guajva Myrtaceae F 452 232 596 732 741 062 1 790 026
Kitul Caryota urens Palme TF 34 888 385 086 1 331 042 1 751 016
Satin Chloroxylon swietenia Rutaceae T 883 917 605 984 2 1 489 903
Orange Citrus cinensis Rutaceae F 381 692 746 938 339 753 1 468 383
Sabukku Grevillea robusta Proteaceae T 24 1112 562 348 135 1 460 721
Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Bambusaceae T 38 442 197 606 1 097 025 1 333 073
Gliricidia Gliricidia sepium L. Euphorbiaceae

T

273 691 964 914 14 280 1 252 885
Halmilla Berrya cordifolia Tiliaceae T 422 079 763 300 87 1 185 466
Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum Sapindaceae TF 214 51 100 1 126 606 1 177 920
Toona Toona sinensis Meliaceae T   495 637 528 134 1 023 771
Daminiya Grewia damine Tiliaceae T 207 175 794 450   1 001 625
Butter Fruit Persea americana Lauraceae F 9 248 372 918 603 995 986 161
Wood apple Limonia acidissima Rutaceae TF 669 231 279 283 238 948 752
Del Artocarpus altilis Moraceae TF 63 355 235 932 611 186 910 473
Hora Dipterocarpus zeylanicus Dipterocarpaceae T 917 104 481 760 039 865 437
Milla Vitex altissima Verbenaceae T 189 607 299 336 285 476 774 419
Ketakela Bridelia retusa Euphorbiaceae T 169 508 585 496 5 238 760 242
Tamarind Tamarindus indica Fabaceae TF 270 467 356 427 63 028 689 922
Kumbuk Terminalia arjuna Combritaceae T 450 907 235 589 457 686 953
Kon Schleichera oleosa Sapindaceae T 271 505 393 029 2 664 536
Damba Syzygium assimile Myrtaceae T 266 685 360 436   627 121
Murunga Moringa oleifera Moringaceae F 369 425 251 859   621 284
Helamba Mitragyma parvifolia Rubiaceae T 569 670 32 783   602 453
Palu Manilkara hexandra Sapotaceae T 577 699 22 199   599 898
Welang Pterospermum suberifolium Sterculiaceae T 436 613 127 818   564 431
Kolon Adina cordifolia Rubiaceae T 191 397 357 067   548 464
Suriyamara Albizia odoratissima Fabaceae T 189 289 319 418 884 509 591
Nedun Pericopsis mooniana Fabaceae T 403 8 350 464 655 473 408
Jambu Syzygium malaccensis Myrtaceae F 156 214 105 348

202 123

463 685
Aralu Terminalia chebula Combritaceae TF 139 436 160   436 299
Gini sapu Michelia champaca Magnoliaceae T 19 123 735 291 519 415 273
Kaduru Thevetia peruviana Apocynaceae T 252 362 130 152   382 514
Ipil Ipil Leucaena leucocephala Fabaceae T 307 438 65 983   373 421
Gammalu Pterocarpus marsupium Fabaceae T 28 920 321 521   350 441
Anoda Anona cherimolia Annonaceae F 80 603 79 139 166 153 325 895
Mee Madhuca longifolia Sapotaceae T 173 848 123 600 939 298 387
Cocoa Theobroma cacao Sterculiaceae F 10 258 808 680 259 498
Mora Dimocarpus longana Sapindaceae TF 75 036 177 568 7 252 611
Kenda Macaranga peltata Euphorbiaceae T 402 198 306 45 312 244 020
Veralu Elaeocarpus serratus Elaeocarpaceae F 977 25 313 208 364 234 654
Gansuriya Thespesia populnea Malvaceae T 89 506 113 347   202 853
Delum Punica granatum Panicaceae F 157 344 40 457 140 197 941
Kottamba Terminalia catappa Combritaceae T 17 906 39 346 129 413 186 665
Pihimbiya Filicium decipiens Sapindaceae T 1 706 20 122 163 130 184 958
Bulu Terminalia bellirica Combritaceae T 24 938 155 752   180 690
Ebony Diospyros ebenum Ebenaceae T 84 297 89 708   174 005
Godapara Dillenia retusa Dilleniaceae T   1 515 170 422 171 937
Domba Calophyllum inophyllum Clusiaceae T 2 460 14 255 151 032 167 747
Beli Aegle marmelos Myrtaceae F 95 258 66 602 3 858 165 718
Kahata Careya arborea Lecythidaceae T 1 106 110 667 53 521 165 294
Wewarana Alseodaphne semicarpifolia Lauraceae T 112 583 50 298   162 881
Hik Lannea coromandelica Anacardiaceae T 125 512 18 749 4 816 149 077
Ehela Cassia fistula Fabaceae T 48 933 92 032   140 965
Hulanhik Chukrasia tabularis Meliaceae T 40 769 90 731   131 500
Palmairah Borrasus flabellifer Palme TF 122 031 5 309   127 340
Nelli Phyllanthus emblica Euphorbiaceae F 6 300 110 408 20 116 728
Ambarella Spondias dulcis Anacardiaceae F 3 614 8 757 73 829 86 200
Albizzia_2 Albizzia lebbeck Fabaceaea T 57 651 12 459   70 110
Gal siyambala Dialium ovoideum Fabaceae TF 3 876 53 427 1 57 304
Etamba Mangifera zeylanica Anacardiaceae TF 12 008 40 080 15 52 103
Coffee Coffea arabica Rubiaceae F 8 031 27 605 5 300 40 936
TOTAL 22 175 531 56 250 152 75 067 321 153 493 004

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