New flower species found in Knuckles

Priyanka Kurugala

Two nature scientists, Dr Kavinda Amarasinghe and Chandika Wijeratna have been able to identify a new variety of Binara in the Knuckles Range, one of the World Heritage Sites. The features of this flower are equal to the blue Binara which can be seen in the cloud forest of the Knuckles Range. The genetic name of the Blue Binara is Exacum trinervium pallidum-knuckles.

Three species of Exacum have been found in Sri Lanka. These are Exacum macranthum, Exacum walkeri and Exacum trinervium pallidum. They are locally called as ‘Binara’ or ‘Ginihiria’ and are commonly known as Binara. Exacum belongs to family Gentianaceae and genus Exacum. According to these explorers, this new variety of Binara has been found in Sri Lanka during the period between 2009 to 2010. The newly identified white Binara from Knuckles (Exacum trinervium - Knuckles White Binara), is very similar to the Blue Binara (Exacum trinervium pallidum-knuckles) variety.

The endemic species of Binara is only found in Horton Plains and the Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve (Exacum walkeri-Horton plains).

The endemic flower is elliptical. The colour of the flower is white. The small flower is a remarkable feature in the Horton Plains environment. These endemic flowers are small and single.

The Blue Binara (Exacum trinervium pallidum) is dark in colour. The newly identified Binara and Blue Binara are different to the above endemic species Exacum walkeri-Horton plains is larger in size than the endemic spices. The flowering season of the new variety is between February to May.

The flower of the subspecies of Exacum trinervium pallidum (Blue Binara) is dark blue.

Flora of Ceylon Vol. 3, states about white flower. Flora of Ceylon vol.3 states that it is a variety of Exacum trinervium pallidum. This Variety is called ‘lewisii’.

Researcher Pradeep Samarawicrama also inspected this plant in the Knuckles Range. According to these researchers, the discovery of this new flower species is another important factor that shows the country’s vast biodiversity.