Lush and shady, the Indian Laurel appears to be the perfect tree for your backyard, but it could be a decision you live to regret.

Although the trees are beautiful to look at or sit under, they can cause serious and costly structural damage to walls, rooftops, gutters, sidewalks, tanks and other undesirable places.

The roots of the Indian Laurel can even strangle other plants and trees such as the endemic Bermuda cedar.

Therefore two college students have spent their summer working with the Parks Department and the Ministry of Works and Engineering on an Islandwide survey of the trees on Government property and public roads to come up with a solution.

Derek Simmons and Keanya Francis, who are both studying science at universities in the US, have colour-coded a map of the Island that identifies the different stages of the Indian Laurel trees and where they have treated them.

The first category is the Indian Laurel seedlings which are too young to be treated, but need to be monitored for potential problems.

They have also identified the location of the more developed saplings.

Areas where the trees were damaging walls, sidewalks, or roads they have either chopped them down or used a herbicide to kill them.

Mr. Simmons and Mr. Francis also have asked the public to contact the Parks Division on 236-4201 to inform them of the location of any sighted trees so that they can complete their survey and include private property.

The Indian Laurel is one of the 900 species of ficus trees and was extensively planted on the Island in the 1940s and 1950s.

But the tree became a problem in the 1980s when a tiny pollinator wasp was introduced to Bermuda.

By fertilising a higher number of seeds, the wasps caused a dramatic increase in seedlings and enabled the ficus tree to produce full-size fruit that contain more viable seeds.

Mr. Simmons explained that one mature tree can produce 100,000 figs and may contain up to 150 seeds.

Mr. Francis added that the "invasive effects of the tree'' became more extensive with the explosion of seedlings.

As an example of the strength of the tree, Mr. Francis said the roots from the Indian Laurel trees that shade the horse and carriages on Front Street were found as far across the harbour as White's Island.

"Our goal is not to destroy the tree, but control and manage them,'' he explained.

"We also have to be especially careful as the fruit of the Indian Laurel is the food of the Ground Dove, an endangered bird in Bermuda.'' The team have also produced a pamphlet highlighting the various ways the public can deal with Indian Laurel on their property.

They suggest removing the fruit from the trees and burning it, as a means to control pollination.

They also advise the removal of any ficus seedling in order to prevent potential problems.

Spraying the larger plants that are growing in walls, buildings, and sidewalks with a herbicide to kill the plant was another suggestion the team provided.

Mr. Simmons and Mr. Francis also stressed the importance of not smuggling plants to the Island.

Plants could contain parasites, posing a threat to other species.

ROOTS, ROCK, RUIN -- Keanya Francis, at left, and Derek Simmons have been working at the Parks Department fighting the wrath of the Indian Laurel tree.

This tree on Friswell's Hill, Pembroke is growing out of a drain pipe and cracking the wall.

ENVIRONMENT ENV