Family: Arecaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles, and South Florida
  
• High climate suitability for tropical/subtropical regions
  
• Widely introduced as popular ornamental
  
• Host for pathogens including Bipolaris setariae and Calonectria colhounii
  
• Shade tolerant - can establish in understory
  
• Broad soil tolerance - adapts to sand, clay, loam, various pH
  
• Bird-dispersed seeds (fleshy drupes)
  
• Prolific seed production (>2,000 seeds per panicle)
  
• Resprouts vigorously after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of agricultural or environmental weed status
  
• Non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• No spines/thorns
  
• No vegetative fragmentation - reproduces by seed only
  
• No persistent seed bank - seeds lose viability in ~2 months
  
• Large propagules (1.5-2 cm) - unlikely unintentional dispersal
  
• Herbicide controllable (oxadiazon effective)