Books:

Pioneering work of art and knowledge

Wild Flowers of Ceylon was first published in 1954. The past editions were much sought after by collectors and students. This third edition, which fills a void long felt by followers of Dorothy Fernando and the younger wild flower enthusiasts, retains the original material and format except for a few minor changes. This great pioneering work of art and knowledge is once again within reach of the naturalist, to look, learn and enjoy.

There emerges through the descriptions of these wild flowers of Ceylon a feeling that this work is something more than a mere text book, that there is something more than precise wording, something more even than the beauty of the flowers themselves; there is a feeling of deep understanding and love of the subject, which Dorothy Fernando, who painted the flowers and wrote the text, imparts to the reader and student.

This book, which is the first of its kind written and produced by a Sinhalese, portrays the loveliness in which Ceylon abounds. Its purpose, apart from being a technical record is to encourage by wider knowledge all those who seek and enjoy the common and oft-time rare, flowers of Ceylon.

The arrangement of the book in sections of flower colours, each four page section being complete in itself with a coloured plate and their appropriate descriptions, makes for ready study and reference. An index is included as well giving botanical and popular names in English, Sinhalese and Tamil.

Dorothy Fernando was well known as a nature artist from the nineteen-fifties till her death in 1981. She was born in Panadura in 1907 and grew up in Colombo. She was married to Dr. Cyril Fernando. Her technique in watercolour paintings of flowers developed during the nineteen-forties while illustrating articles on the indigenous orchid flora. In the late nineteen-forties she travelled, collected and painted wild flowers, culminating in the book 'Wildflowers of Ceylon' that was published in 1954 in England. In the nineteen-seventies, she painted numerous watercolour nature studies of butterflies, bees, other insects and flowers, including indigenous orchids.

Lake House Investments Ltd, Sri Lanka, published the second edition of 'Wild Flowers of Ceylon' in 1980. The present publication, which is the third edition, retains the original material and format except for a few changes. The scientific names have been revised reflecting current usage, use of metric measurements and the re-designed index. The original paintings done by Dorothy Fernando for the 1954 publication are deposited in London. Dr. Jayaindra Fernando (grandson of Dorothy Fernando), a surgeon in the private sector, and himself an artist and author has been instrumental in making this publication a reality.

-TF