Threat by invasive plant

Disna MUDALIGE

One of the world's worst alien invasive plants known as Boo Bovitiya (Koster's Curse) which resembles local bovitiya varieties, has been fast invading the country's wet land, recent studies conducted by a team of environmentalists of the Environment Trust Fund (ETF) have revealed.

Boo Bovitiya

ETF Director, Sajeewa Chamikara pointed out that this plant has been called in numerous local names such as Kata Kalu Bovitiya, Rubber Bovitiya, Nylon Bovitiya, Kaak Bovitiya and Boo Bovitiya due to its widespread over the wet land. This species scientifically named as 'Clidemia hirta' is among the first 100 of the world's most dangerous invasive species.

It has become a threat to the spread of indigenous plant species and understorey layer of forests. The thin cover of this species covers the sun light that falls on the other understorey plant varieties. Chamikara stressed the need of immediate intervention of the authorities to remove this plant considering the threat it has posed to natural eco-systems.

It is believed that this plant was introduced to the country as an ornamental plant during 1890s. Studies have confirmed that this plant has been spreading fast in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Kandy, Matale and Nuwara Eliya districts.

Chamikara said that dense shrubs of this species can be observed in the Sinharaja rain forest and Sri Pada forest reserve. In addition, it can be profoundly observed in many wetland forests. It spreads fast in forest gaps, cleared due to various reasons such as cultivation, construction of roads and other tourism and development projects. It has spread as a thick cover in many lanes in Attalamettuwa forest area which belongs to the Knuckles forest reserve.