Dr. Deepthi Yakandawela, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Botany at the University of Peradeniya, explains about the ‘new’ find (Legendra Peradenyiae ), which has become ‘The 13 on the Red List’ of vanishing plants in the wet land.  She is a plant taxonomist. Taxonomy is an area that receives less consideration and is neglected, but plays an important role in biodiversity conservation. Conservation of organisms cannot necessarily be expected unless they are identified. Our efforts to understand the consequences of ‘environmental change and degradation’ are compromised fatally if we cannot distinguish and describe the interacting components of natural ecosystems. In this context, describing species provides way for the conservation of the species by resolving the species ‘unit’. According to my insight, the genus Lagenandra was a less studied plant group and I initiated this research with Mr. Indrakheela Madola as an undergraduate’s project, and now he is continuing it for his PhD. Up to date the research team has described 4 new endemic Lagenandra species; Lagenandra wayambae in the honor of Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and Lagenandra kalugalensis and Lagenandra srilankensis during the last year.

This group headed by Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala (Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya) and, Prof. Kapila Yakandawala (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka) and Mr. Indrakheela Madola (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), who works on the Taxonomy of genus Lagenandra have found a new plant species, with two varieties, from the wet zone of Sri Lanka. They named this new plant species as Lagenandra peradeniyae in honour of University of Peradeniya and the two intraspecific varieties as Lagenandra peradeniyae var peradeniyae and Lagenandra peradeniyae var speciosa. This plant grows associated with water and is locally known by the Sinhala name “ Ketala/Kethala”. 

According to my insight, the genus Lagenandra was a less studied plant group and I initiated this research with Mr. Indrakheela Madola as an undergraduate’s project

Both Dr.Deepthi Yakandawela and Dr. K.Yakandawela are two supervisors to the Post Graduate student Madola.
Sri Lanka is home to 12 Lagenandra species and the new discovery escalates the number to 13. Out of these 13 species, 12 are endemic to the country. As the newly found species is restricted to a lowland rainforest patch in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, it is considered to be a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to International Union of Conservation for the Conservation of Nature Red Listing criterion. The research publication on naming of the new plant species was published in the latest issue of the International Journal Phytotaxa Volume 567 No 1.
Lagenandra peradeniyae could be considered as one of the most attractive Lagenandra species with its colorful inflorescence (spathe) standing above the attractive leaves. 

 The variety peradeniyae consists a dark maroon spathe and dark green leaves variegated with silver patches while the variety speciosa possess a light green/yellow spathe mixed with maroon/purple and light green leaves with silver colour appearing towards either side of the mid rib. As the plants are restricted to few populations, responsible authorities should initiate measures to prevent illegal collections added Dr.Deepthi Yakandawela
Dr.Deepthi Yakandawela is the Scientist who corrected the popularly advertised  Sri Lanka flower is “ Manel “  and not Nil Manel.