koster's curse



i have this feeling that most people who walk or jog in the parks are quite oblivious to what is around them. they do not bother to find out more about the plants and trees that they come across during their jaunt in the park.

getting acquainted with the flora and fauna in the park makes the walk in the park more meaningful. being able to identify the more common plants and knowing something about them makes one feel connected with the surroundings.

one common shrub found in all parks in singapore is the koster's curse. the koster’s curse is a perennial shrub, about 50–200 cm in height. the hairy leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and have distinctive veins. the plant produces small, white flowers, followed by purple berries.

the koster’s curse is a highly invasive shrub native to tropical america. the species has been transported around the world as a garden plant and seed contaminant. koster’s curse has become a serious pest in at least 16 countries, including hawaii, fiji and indonesia.

in hawaii, more than 40 000 hectares are infested. once established, koster’s curse can form dense thickets that smother plantations, pastures and native vegetation, much like lantana.

if one is caught trying to sneak this plant into australia, one will face a penalty amounting to aus$60,000.