Living in Goa during the monsoon is the most calm and serene experience. The weather is windy and rain is just around the corner, raining without a warning. Rains put a halt to the fishing boats and festivals are also about to come. It is also the breeding season of fish and many people prefer to turn to a vegetarian diet. Whether you're tending to your own vegetable garden at your villa in Goa or you visit local markets like Panjim Market for grocery shopping, you will see a wild range of seasonal produce in the rainy season.

Markets in Goa transform into a wild vegetable garden, with exotic wild monsoon veggies that most city dwellers are not even aware of. Panjim market in the monsoons is taken over by Goan women selling local vegetables. These veggies are naturally grown in nature’s organic garden. They grow commonly in the state’s green patches and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Panjim Market

These are some commonly known monsoon veggies in Goa: Naval Kol (German Tulip), Kurdu (Celosia), Haldi (turmeric) leaves, Chauli (black-eyed peas) leaves, Aalu (Colocasia), Telpat Ranbhaji (Wild Veggies), Neerfanas (Breadfruit), Kantoli (Spine gourd), Shirali (ridge gourd), and Vaghate or Ranmeva (Ceylon Caper).

The veggies are also a part of the local festivals and rituals like the Rishi Panchami and Ganesh Chaturthi. Where a special meal is prepared for pooja with these wild local monsoon veggies. Apart from vegetables, there are local mushrooms which have very good taste, some late mangoes, Ole Khajur (raw dates), and local fruits like Papaya, Pumpkin, and Kohla (Ash Gourd).

Monsoons in Goa bring a quiet beauty to everyday life. The rains refresh the land, and the markets fill with fresh, wild vegetables. It’s a season where everything slows down, and people come together to enjoy simple meals made from local produce. There’s a calm in the air, and a sense of connection to nature and tradition. It’s a reminder of the peaceful, meaningful moments that make life in Goa so special.

In the Western Ghats, the spread of non-native plant species is rapidly replacing native vegetation, causing significant ecological imbalance. This invasion is leading to a food crisis as these plants disrupt the natural habitats of key prey species. As a result, wildlife is forced to enter human settlements in search of food, increasing conflicts between animals and communities.

Western Ghats, pc: Parnavi Bangar

Invasive species like Lantana, African Tulips, and Morning Glory are widespread, causing notable damage to our ecosystems. These aggressive plants are not native to India and are displacing traditional fruit-bearing trees such as mangoes, wild jack, wild berries, and other native plants in various forests. Their rapid growth makes them difficult to control, posing a threat to the health of our forests.

Tall Morning Glory

Source: Guests who never left

The Tall Morning Glory also known as Kaladana is a fast-growing vine that can reach 2-3 meters in length, with slender, hairy stems and heart-shaped leaves. Its vibrant blue, purple, or pink flowers are funnel-shaped, and it produces up to 25,000 seeds per plant, which can spread by wind, rain, or accidental human activity.

Kaladana grows by twining around other plants, creating a thick canopy that shades and competes with them for nutrients and water. This makes it a troublesome weed, as it can significantly reduce crop yields. It can also spread rapidly in both disturbed areas and forests, making it a challenge to manage.

Young seedlings can be easily pulled out by hand. For small patches, cutting the plant is an option, but make sure to dig out the roots to prevent it from growing back. In areas where the vine forms large patches, cutting followed by herbicide application is recommended to stop regrowth.

African Tulip

Source: Guests who never left

The African Tulip, also known as Pichkari and Rugtoora is a medium-to-large tree that can grow up to 35 metres tall, with a wide crown and smooth, greyish-brown bark. It has deep green, glossy leaves and produces striking orange-scarlet flowers, with its seeds dispersed by wind.

Pichkari trees invade open pastures, abandoned agricultural land, plantations, and disturbed forests. They grow rapidly, forming dense stands that suppress other vegetation. The flower nectar is toxic to insects, while mammals like Nilgiri langur and barking deer eat the flowers, and parakeets and squirrels consume the seeds.

To manage African tulip trees, young trees can be uprooted, though large trees may resprout from root fragments. Chemical control includes injecting herbicide into young tree trunks or applying it to stumps of cut trees. In some areas, biological control using pathogenic fungi has been effective for young trees.

Lantana

Source: Guests who never left

Lantana, or Raimuniya and Tantani, is a woody shrub that grows 2-5 metres tall. It thrives in both dry and wet environments, forming dense thickets or climbing trees. Found across India, including Goa, its leaves are rough, oval, and green with toothed edges. The small, colourful flowers attract butterflies, and its fruit turns from green to black, dispersed by birds and mammals.

Lantana's dense growth prevents native plants from growing and changes forest structure. It increases fire risks and is toxic to livestock, reducing available forage. Lantana also hosts diseases like sandal spike disease and suppresses important plants like amla, posing risks to forest communities.

The most effective removal method is cutting the plant below the root collar to prevent regrowth. Uprooting is less effective and labour-intensive. Consistent removal and establishing canopy cover can help control Lantana.

Conclusion:

There are many such invasive plant species altering habitats in our forests. Managing them in the forests of the Western Ghats is crucial for preserving biodiversity and ecological balance. Raising awareness about such species and promoting knowledge about native trees is essential for safeguarding our environment. 

This understanding is particularly valuable for individuals managing their gardens, such as in Goa, where knowing about trees in Goa is crucial for effective plant management. For further information on such species refer the book ‘Guests who never left’ and the article ‘No food in Forests’ for Invasive species in the Western Ghats. For more tips on living in Goa and managing your home and garden, stay tuned to our blog!

In this session, we speak to Shubhendu Sharma, Founder of Afforestt. Afforestt does amazing work rewilding barren land in rural as well as urban areas, in different climatic zones, using different species through a process called the Miyawaki Method. Over the conversation, we discuss the fundamentals of the Miyawaki technique, the how tos of growing a forest, the benefits of picking native species, the ways and means of making forests and landscapes in the cities, as well as the challenges of growing and maintaining a dense forest. We also delve into the subject of mono-planting and understand how it impacts local biodiversity.

Here are some key takeaways from the session:

• Above ground, we perceive the forest as multiple trees, plants, and shrubs. But below ground, the forest grows as a single organism. ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben is a great read to understand how trees grow and communicate

• ‘Jungle Trees of Central India’ by Pradip Krishen is an excellent resource to learn about Indian native trees.

• One can visit the following native forests in India to find clues about and study the local indigenous species:

  • Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai

  • Kabini Forest in Bangalore

  • Srisailam Reserve in Hyderabad

  • Annamalai Forest in Tamil Nadu

  • Ridge Forest of the Aravalli Range in Delhi

  • Alwar Forest in Gurgaon and Haryana

  • Kanha and Tadoba National Parks in Central India

  • Jhilli Milli Forest in Kolkata

  • Jhalana Forest in Jaipur

  • Bathinda Forest in Punjab

  • Nepli Forest in Chandigarh

• Afforestt also has an open source DIY toolkit on How To Build Forests. You can find the methodology here.

Read more about growing urban forests using the Miyawaki method in our introductory blogpost.