Sri Lanka’s national tree. Flushes of bright red young leaves and fragrant white flowers make it easy to spot in season.
Species guide
Na tree
Mesua ferrea
Status
Native
Habitat
Wet-zone forest
When to look
Red new leaves and fragrant flowers in season
Field notes
Photography note
Photos on this page are placeholders and will be replaced with the lodge’s own photography. Ask our naturalists about ethical photography of this species.
Keep exploring
More from the species guide
Endemic
Glaucidium castanotum
A small owl that hunts by day as well as by night, often found close to the lodge.
Forest edge and tall trees
Endemic
Otus thilohoffmanni
Only described to science in 2004, this tiny owl is a prize for any visiting birder.
Dense lowland rainforest understorey
Specialty
Batrachostomus moniliger
Perfectly camouflaged pairs roost by day in the undergrowth; guides know where to look.
Dense, shaded thickets
Resident
Bubo nipalensis
A huge forest owl, linked in Sri Lankan folklore to the eerie call of the “devil bird”.
Mature forest