Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates (increases probability that it could establish in Hawaiian Islands)
- Reported to be naturalized in China and Queensland, Australia
- Other Cymbopogon species have become invasive
- Unpalatable to grazing animals
- Skin contact may cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals
- Shade-tolerant (can grow under dense tree canopies and possibly spread into intact forests)
- Seeds may be dispersed intentionally by people, or passively by wind or gravity
- Tolerates and can regrow after being cut back
- Limited and missing ecological information makes accurate risk predication difficult
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of naturalization, no negative impacts have been reported to date
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Source of essential oil for soaps and perfumes
- Plants require cross-pollination
- Not reported to spread vegetatively