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Osbekia is a genus native to Eastern Asia, which include China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Australasia. The plants belonging to this genus was named as Osbekia by Carolus Linnaeus in memory of the Swedish explorer Pehr Osbeck (1723 – 1805).

Ceylon Osbekia is a species that belong to the family Melastomaceae and it is indigenous to Sri Lanka and India. It is found in wet grassy areas and moist deciduous forests.

This is a rare dry zone species, which grows about 3-12 inches from the ground depending on the surrounding vegetation. If there is space around the plant, it will grow only to a height of about 2-3 inches.  However if it is growing among other plants it will grow up to about a foot in search of sunlight.

Even though in India this species is known to bear flowers from November- February, in Wilpattu I have observed the flowers of this species from May-July. During these months these pretty flowers can be commonly observed in suitable habitat at many locations including Mahapatessa, Kudapatessa, Kombansanchi pooval, Panikkar Villu and Sudu Muwa Wala.

However during the dry season when most fields become parched not a trace of these flowers can be observed.