Family: Apocynaceae

Cynanchum gerrardii (milk-rope) is a semi succulent climbing plant native to East Africa, South Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. A latex of the plant can be used as a fish poison. The young shoots can be cooked, and eaten as a vegetable, this is said to be popular with pregnant women in Somalia. This plant has been documented as naturalized on Oʻahu. Data about this plant is limited, which may make assessing risk difficult. There are no reports of invasiveness, but limited records of this plant outside its home range. It is a versatile plant, growing easily in high elevations, and has a smothering growth habit. These characteristics combined with the knowledge that other species in the genus are invasive, give it the rating “evaluate”.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands
  
• Other species in genus are invasive
  
• Used as a fish poison (possibly could be toxic to other animals or humans)
  
• Climbing, smothering growth habit
  
• Reproduces by wind-dispersed seeds
  
• Gaps in biological and ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness, but limited evidence of introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)