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Pancriatum is a bulbous genus in the Amaryllidaceae family found in tropical Asia, tropical Africa, the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. It is commonly believed that the flowers of this genus are induced by rain.

There are two species of Pancriatum (Spider Lily) recorded in the country. One is the Ceylon Spider Lily Pancratium zeylanicum, which is not uncommon in the dry zone.  The other is the very rare Pancratium biflorum which has been only been collected so far in one locality, in the Mannar District between Madhu Road and Mannar.  (Oct 1970, Dassanayake 699 (K,PDA).)
Around 8.45am on the 18th of August 2013, while driving towards Maradanmaduwa I noticed two white lily type flowers among the parched and dried up grass. I did not observe any plant as such except for a small stem that has sprouted from the ground with two flowers. Having looked at the flowers through my binoculars I noticed that this species is different to the Ceylon Spider Lily that I had observed and photographed in the park.
The two experts who guide me on flora, Dr. Jacob de Vlas and Dr. Samantha Suranjan, at once confirmed that that this is not the common P. zeylanicum and that this is indeed a rare discovery. They are yet to conclude whether this is the very rare P. biflorum or P. parvum (a species, which is considered endemic to India). While the description of the only specimen of P. biflorum that has been collected in 1970 appear to describe a flower with similar features to the one I have photographed the photos of the flowers of P. parvum alsolooks very similar.

These flowers were photographed between Palukola Wala and Maradanmaduwa.