Clarifying a Historical Error
In 1986, as a school student in Sri Lanka, Deepthi Yakandawala sent a Vesak greeting card to the country’s president, J.R. Jayewardene. Little did she know that she would receive a response featuring a picture of violet-colored water lilies. At the time, it never occurred to Deepthi that an official card from the president would display the wrong flower. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Over the years, government newspapers, postage stamps, and school textbooks all showcased the same violet water lily, falsely identified as the national flower of Sri Lanka.
Discovering the Truth
Deepthi Yakandawala, now a renowned plant taxonomist and professor of botany at the University of Peradeniya, has made it her mission to rectify this mistake. Together with her husband, Kapila Yakandawala, they began raising awareness about the true identity of the national flower around 2010. They proposed that the scientific name for the flower commonly known as “nil manel” should be Nymphaea nouchali, also known as Nymphaea stellata. It was crucial to correct this misconception and establish the accurate national flower of Sri Lanka.
The ‘Real’ National Flower
The committee responsible for selecting Sri Lanka’s national flower declared it alongside the national tree, the Ceylon ironwood (Mesua ferrea), in February 1986. However, they failed to include an image of the flower in their report, describing it only as a pale blue water lily called Nymphaea stellata. The first public announcement of the national flower came through an article published in a Sinhala daily newspaper on March 1 of the same year. This is where the confusion began. The accompanying photo displayed a violet water lily, a hybrid species mistakenly promoted as the national flower.
Time for Correction
Efforts to rectify this historical error began in 2011 when the Ministry of Environment established a committee. The committee recommended that the ministry publicize the correct flower and ensure the use of the accurate image across all government departments. Although these recommendations were approved in 2015, the incorrect identity of the flower still prevails. The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently instructed the Ministry of Environment to run a public awareness campaign to address this matter.
A Botanical Study
Meanwhile, the Yakandawalas conducted a comprehensive study of the water lily, discovering that the violet variety and the native blue variety were hybridizing. They named the invading violet species Nymphaea × erangae. Their research revealed populations of water lilies with characteristics that lay between the native Nymphaea nouchali and Nymphaea × erangae. This discovery emphasizes the importance of preserving the unique genetic identity of the native species and raises awareness about natural hybridization within this plant family.
The Scientific Community’s Awareness
While the public continued to be presented with images of the wrong national flower, the scientific community recognized the misidentification. Magdon Jayasuriya, a plant ecologist, confirmed that the 1988 National Atlas showcased the correct pale blue flower, setting it apart from other government institutions that popularized the incorrect violet flower. Botanist L.K. Senaratna from the Open University of Sri Lanka, along with her father, realized the error as soon as the first picture of the wrong flower was published in 1986. However, their efforts to rectify the mistake were disregarded, allowing the incorrect flower to maintain its status as the national symbol.
Considering Alternatives
Given the ongoing confusion surrounding Sri Lanka’s national flower, it may be prudent to select a new flower that can be easily identified and is undeniably unique to Sri Lanka. According to Jagath Gunawardena, an environmental lawyer and naturalist, if a search for a new flower is initiated, he suggests considering the Vesak orchid (Dendrobium maccarthiae). This endemic flower, with its pale pink and crimson hues, could serve as a distinctive and appropriate symbol for the country.
A Fresh Start
“We shouldn’t hesitate to choose a new national flower if the current one creates confusion,” says Pradeep Rajatewa, founder of the Flora Sri Lanka website. He points out that back in 1991, Sri Lanka changed its national sport from elle to volleyball. With numerous candidates available, including the endemic binara (Exacum trinervium macranthum), ma rath mal (Rhododendron arboreum zeylanicum), and ran dothalu (Loxococcus rupicola), selecting a new national flower would ensure clarity and celebrate the unique floral diversity of Sri Lanka.
Citations:
- Yakandawala, D. M., Kumudumali, D. P., & Yakandawala, K. (2017). Evidence for interspecific hybridization between exotic ‘Dam manel’ (Nymphaea × erangae) and native ‘Nil manel’ (Nymphaea nouchali Burm. F.) in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science, 46(3), 81-91. doi:10.4038/cjs.v46i3.7445
- Banner image of the nil manel, Sri Lanka’s national flower, courtesy of Aruna Yasapalitha.
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