Seemai Karuvelam trees are biologically known as Prosopis juliflora. It is a species native to West Africa and was brought to Tamil Nadu in 1960s as fuelwood.

• The plant is such that no other species can co-exist with it, and it has already caused drying up of several water bodies in Tamil Nadu.
• Karuvelam tree absorbs more than four litres of water to obtain one kilogram of biomass.
• It cannot even shelter birds as it produces less oxygen and more carbon dioxide.
• If it does not have sufficient water it begins absorbing groundwater.
• And if there is no groundwater, it starts absorbing humidity from the surroundings
• . It can also turn the groundwater poisonous.

Considering such adverse effects of Seemai Karuvelam, Tamil Nadu High Court has directed the state government to eradicate this plant in the state through legislation.