Tag Archives: Sonerila

Sonerila firma (Thw. ex C. B. Clarke) Lundin

Rangala Sonerila (Sonerila firma)

The Rangala Sonerila was described in 1879, originally as a variety of another species, Gardner’s Sonerila (Sonerila gardneri Thwaites).

The species was endemic to the island of Sri Lanka, where it was apparently restricted to a very small area in montane forest in the Kandy District, it is now considered extinct. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Roger Lundin: Taxonomy of Snerila (Melastomataceae) in Ceylon. Nordic Journal of Botany 3: 633-656. 1983

*********************

edited: 28.01.2020

Sonerila tomentella Thw.v

Saffragam Sonerila (Sonerila tomentella)  

The Saffragam Sonerila, described in 1859, was restricted to the Ratnapura District in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.  

The plant reached a height of up to 45 cm, the leaves were ovate to oblong ovate, and slightly hirsute on both sides, the flowers were white to light pink.  

The Saffragam Sonerila is considered most likely extinct. [1][2]

*********************  

References:  

[1] Roger Lundin: Taxonomy of Snerila (Melastomataceae) in Ceylon. Nordic Journal of Botany 3: 633-656. 1983
[2] MOE 2012. The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. VIII + 476 pp  

*********************  

edited: 28.01.2020

Sonerila cordifolia Cogn.

Heart-leaved Sonerila (Sonerila cordifolia)

The Heart-leaved Sonerila, described in 1891, is, or perhaps was, endemic to the island of Sri Lanka, where it appears to have been restricted to a single locality in the moist lowland forest of Sinharaja in the Galle District.

The species was a small, about 15 to 25 cm tall, ascending herb with 0,5 to 2 cm long and 0,5 to 1,2 cm wide, somewhat heart-shaped leaves, it had few-flowered cymes with red flowers.

The Heart-leaved Sonerila is most likely extinct now. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Roger Lundin: Taxonomy of Snerila (Melastomataceae) in Ceylon. Nordic Journal of Botany 3: 633-656. 1983

*********************

edited: 28.01.2020

Sonerila wightiana Arn.

Wight‘s Sonerila (Sonerila wightiana)

This species was described in 1837, it was restricted to the montane forests at Adam’s Peak in the Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province in southern Sri Lanka.

Wight‘s Sonerila was a erect herb, reaching a size of about 30 to 50 cm, it had 1,5 to 3,5 cm long and 0,7 to 1,7 cm wide leaves and few- to many-flowered inflorescences with pink flowers.

The species is now considered as most likely extinct. [1]

*********************

References:

[1] Roger Lundin: Taxonomy of Snerila (Melastomataceae) in Ceylon. Nordic Journal of Botany 3: 633-656. 1983

*********************

edited: 28.01.2020