Sri Lanka is a place with a lot of plants and flowers. There are over 3,500 kinds of plants that grow in Sri Lanka. 25% Of these plants found only in Sri Lanka and nowhere else in the world.

The plants in Sri Lanka are very special. People have written books about them. One book is called A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. This book tells us about the kinds of plants in Sri Lanka and where they grow.

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## Botanical Breakdown by Eco-Zones

Sri Lanka has areas with different kinds of plants. There are three areas:

## 1. The Wet Zone

* This area has a lot of rain and the plants here are very green.

* There are trees like Hora trees and lots of ferns and orchids.

## 2. The Intermediate Zone

* This area is in between the dry areas.

* The plants here are a mix of the dry areas.

## 3. The. Arid Zone

* This area is very dry. The plants here are special because they can save water.

* There are trees like Ebony and Satinwood.

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## Iconic Flowers & Endemic Plants

Sri Lanka has some special flowers and plants.

* The Blue Water Lily is the flower of Sri Lanka.

* There is a shrub called Heen Bovitiya that has purple flowers.

And 

* There is a tree called Godapara that has flowers.

* There is a kind of plant called Strobilanthes that blooms only once every 12 years.

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## Valued Timber and Ecosystem Giants

Sri Lanka has some big and important trees.

* The Hora tree is very big and important for the animals that live in Sri Lanka.

* The Ebony tree is very valuable. People want to protect it.

And

* The Mangrove trees are special because they can live in salt water.

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## Best Places to Observe Sri Lankas Flora

If you want to see the plants and flowers of Sri Lanka you should visit these places:

* The Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a special place with many endemic plants.

* The Horton Plains National Park is an windy place with special plants.

And 

* The Royal Botanic Gardens in Peradeniya is a garden with many kinds of plants.

* The Hakgala Botanical Gardens is a garden in the mountains with plants.