Rhynchosia velutina, a Critically Endangered Legume Crop Wild Relative in Sri Lanka

A small population of Rhynchosia velutina Wight & Arn. was found in an unprotected coastal forest area, immediately south of Wilpattu National Park in the Puttalam District, during a recent Environment Impact Assessment of a site earmarked for development. This species was a legume crop wild relative known in Sri Lanka from only two previous collections in 1932 and 1973 from two protected areas in the south eastern coastal forests. The species is very rare and considered critically endangered in Sri Lanka. This new finding is the only record of this species in the west coast of Sri Lanka and therefore this location should be regarded as a refugium as it lies outside protected areas. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.7284 Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 43(1): 147-150, 201