Woody Invasive Plants Paraserianthes falcataria (Albizia)
Albizia (Paraserianthes falcataria) is a native of tropical Asia. It has no vernacular name. It is large, very quick growing tree, which can reach a great height (up to 100 feet) in a few years' time and invade any fertile available site. It has a smooth pale gray bark, high wide-spreading branches, thin feathery foliage, and numerous tasseled heads of small creamy-white and fragrant flowers and small pods. Albizia is found in the Seychelles from the sea level to the higher hills, but appears to do better in the cooler and moister regions.
Adenanthera pavonia (Agati)
Agati is a native of Tropical Asia. Agati tree is a slender, medium-size tree, with rather wide-spreading branches, fine feathery foliage, small inconspicuous yellow flowers and thin shelled pods, brown outside but of a satiny straw colour inside, which when mature twist snake like and split to disclose small, lens-shaped, bright red bead like seeds
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Clidemia hirta
Clidemia hirta is an invasive shrub (Creole name: Faux Watouk), has been spreading on Silhouette. Recently it has also been found on Mahe. Clidemia grows quickly and displace native plants. It competes very well for light and soil nutrients.
The Forestry Section had implemented a Follow-up project to eradicate Clidemia, all over Mahe. The project involves the physical control of Clidemia in various areas of the Morne Seychellois National Park and replacing them with endemic species. Apart from this, there is also an awareness program, which will involve the public.
Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon)
Cinnamomum verum(Cinnamon) was introduced in Seychelles in 1772 and spread so rapidly that already by the end of the 19th century extensive cinnamon forests are said to have existed. Cinnamon is today the most widely distributed and probably the most numerous of plant in the Seychelles from the sea level to the highest elevations.
Chrysobalanus icaco (Prune de France)
Chrysobalanus icaco was originally introduced from South America in the 1920s in order to prevent erosion on steep slopes. Dense thickets of this species have now become established on many steep erosion slopes. Although it is difficult to get rid of this species once it has become established it appears to grow mainly in areas where the indigenous forest had been cleared.
Psidium cattleianum (Wild guava)
Psidium cattleianum is a species native of Brazil that has adapted rapidly in the Seychelles as vigorously growing tree. The date of introduction of Psidium cattleianum is not known but it was already reported as common in the Seychelles in the 1870s. It grows comfortably from the lowest to the highest elevations and it is now to be found in most habitat types.
Alstonia macrophylla (Bois jaune) and Tabebuia pallida (Calice du pape)
Two rather recently introduced species previously much used for forest plantations, Alstonia macrophylla (Bois jaune) and Tabebuia pallida (Calice du pape), have turned out to be aggressive invaders and are now rapidly spreading in many natural habitats at low and intermediate altitudes. Bois jaune is one of the introduced species, which invades glacis areas successfully.
Syzygium jambos (Jambrosa)
Syzygium jambos (Jambrosa) is a species, which tends to replace the naturally occurring, forests in river ravines and in humid sites at higher elevations. Jambrosa origins in Indo-Malaysia and was recorded as being well established in Seychelles already in the 1870's. It is still occasionally for the sake of the edible fruits.
Anacardium occidentale (Cashew)
Anacardium occidentale was introduced to Seychelles from Central America. Already in 1870's it was recorded as one of the most common species of Seychelles. It is now confined to drier types of vegetation.
Artocarpus heterophyllus (Zak)
Artocarpus heterophyllus (Zak) has been frequently cultivated in more humid sites and can now be found growing on the hillsides of Silhouette and Mahe.
Ardisia elliptica Ardisia elliptica a species native to Sri Lanka and Indo-Malaysia was originally introduced to the botanical garden in Victoria around the turn of the century. It is now a rather common component in the forest on slopes of Trois Frere and in the L'Exile area. The fruits are eaten and spread by birds and it is thus likely that it spread further in the future.
Ardisia crenata (Arbre-d-Noel)
Ardisia crenata (Arbre-d-Noel) is a low growing shrub from tropical Asia with white flowers and decorative red berries which, although being a relatively recent introduction, have now become established in most humid forest on Mahe.
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