| Pictures and written by Dr. Lalith Gunasekera
Invasive Plants Specialist – Melbourne - Australia
(September 29, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) Yoda Nidikumba (Mimosa pigra) was first recorded in Sri Lanka in 1997. The species is mainly confined to the Central and North Western Provinces of Sri Lanka. This species one of the worst alien invasive plant in the world. It has spread along the Mahaweli river 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 is native plant of Central America and 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 has been spending large sum of money to control them over several years.
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| Yoda Nidikumba Flowering |
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| Yoda Nidikumba growing along the Denzil Kobbakaduwa Mawatha – Battaramulla close to the CEA |
Recently I came to Sri Lanka as I do every year to see the unique environment of Sri Lanka. I started my journey from my brother’s place at Malambe. First I entered to the Denzil Kobbakaduwa Road from Koswatta side and travel towards to the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). When I approached to the CEA I found several number of Yoda Nidikumba plants were growing very happily on the opposite side of the CEA along the wetland. Most of the plants were flowering and some of them already produced large number of seed pods. I couldn’t believe my eyes after seen “Yoda Nidikumba” in Colombo area and specially in front of the CEA? Can you believe this? I stopped my vehicle and took several pictures to publicise this story. I am sure that there was a big public awareness campaign on this plant species in the past as it was new plant for the Sri Lankan people and threat to our environment. But how do you miss this species in a very public place specially around the CEA.
I do hope that the relevant authorities will be inspecting this area and make suitable arrangements to remove those plants and burn them with seed pods. Further it is very important to monitor this site for several years to see any more seedlings or new plants could be emerged from seed-bank in the soil. Please keep our capital city away from alien invasive plants. Try to grow and promote our endemic plants.
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| Yoda Nidikumba is being produced large amount of seed pods in Battaramulla |
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