Family: Piperaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in tropical climates (native range matches high-risk climate suitability)
  
• Repeatedly introduced outside native range (Taiwan, Poland, Italy, Florida, Norway)
  
• Host for recognized pests/pathogens (e.g., root lesion nematode)
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Reproduces by vegetative fragmentation (stems root at nodes)
  
• Effective natural enemies present locally (mites, root/stem rots, fungal diseases)

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized, or weedy
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic
  
• Non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• No evidence of prolific seed production (fruit infrequently formed)