Yoda Nidikumba invades Colombo

Text and pictures by Dr. Lalith Gunasekera Invasive Plants Specialist Melbourne - Australia

Yoda Nidikumba (Mimosa pigra) was first found in Sri Lanka in 1997. The species is mainly confined to the Central and North Western Provinces of Sri Lanka. This species is one of the worst alien invasive plants in the world. It has spread along the Mahaweli Ganga and its tributaries covering approximately 200 ha reducing the flow of water and chocking water movement in the connected reservoirs, significantly affecting the biodiversity of Sri Lanka.

Yoda Nidikumba, a native plant of Central America, has become a serious environmental, agricultural and economic problem in many countries where it has been introduced (accidentally or deliberately). Mimosa has invaded thousands of hectares in Northern Australia and the government there has been spending large sums of money to control the invasion over the past several years.

When I came to Sri Lanka sometime ago, as I do every year, to observe the unique environment of Sri Lanka, I started my journey from Malambe. First I entered the Denzil Kobbakaduwa Road from the Koswatta side and travelled towards the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). When I approached the CEA, I found several number of Yoda Nidikumba plants growing very happily on the opposite side of the CEA along the wetland. Most of the plants were flowering and some of them had already produced a large number of seed pods. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw "Yoda Nidikumba" in Colombo opposite the CEA of all places? I stopped my vehicle and took several photos of the invasive plants. I am sure that there was a big public awareness campaign on this plant species in the past as it was new to Sri Lanka and a threat to our environment.

I do hope that the relevant authorities will inspect this area and take steps to remove those plants and burn them together with seed pods. It is very important to monitor this site for several years to see whether any more seedlings or new plants will emerge from the seed-bank in the soil. Please keep our capital city free from alien invasive plants. Try to grow and promote our endemic plants.

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