Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Grows in tropical climates
- Naturalized in India
- Reported to be a crop weed within native range
- Other species in the genus Vernonia are regarded as invasive; some treatments still include bitterleaf in this genus
- Roots reported to be toxic
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds dispersed by wind, moved by water, and intentionally cultivated by people
- Prolific seed production
- Able to coppice after cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock and edible leaves for human consumption (palatable despite reports of root toxicity)
- Requires full sunlight (dense shade may limit ability to spread)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively