By M.D.K.L.Gunathilaka (2020-06-05)

Arundinaria densifolia is an endemic plant species belongs to the Gramineae plant family distributed around wetlands in Horton Plains in Sri Lanka also known as ‘dwarf bamboo’. Dwarf bamboo is found only in the wet patanas that occur on the Horton Plains, where it often forms dense thickets and grows in cold, standing water. Gamble (1896) also cites the species from a Beddome collec tion made in 1873 on Anemudi Hill, Anamalais, however the presence of the species was not proved as there was no specimen to identify the species. Horton Plains classified under the category of ‘highland streams’ or ‘wet patanas’ is a protected area under the Department of Wildlife Conser- vation. Two types of wetland vegetation have found in Horton Plains. They are namely ‘stream vegetation’ and ‘marsh land vegetation’.