Family: Cucurbitaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Sicana odorifera (casabanana, cassabanana, musk-cucumber) is a tropical vine native to a region spanning Peru to Bolivia in South America. It belongs to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae) and produces a vigorous, sprawling vine with large, fragrant, and visually striking fruits. The fruit is known for its strong, sweet, melon-like aroma, and is sometimes used in traditional preparations such as beverages, preserves, or flavoring. In some regions, it is also grown as an ornamental or shade-providing vine on trellises, fences, and arbors due to its rapid growth and dense foliage.

Risks & Threats:
Although Sicana odorifera is not currently known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it possesses traits that are cause for concern. As a fast-growing climbing vine with large seeds and strong vegetative growth, it has the potential to smother surrounding vegetation and compete with native plants if it were to escape cultivation. Its ability to thrive in warm tropical climates raises additional concern for establishment in Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems. Caution is recommended to ensure that this species does not negatively impact Hawaiʻi, and ongoing evaluation is needed to better understand its invasive potential under local conditions.

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Possibly naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (confirmation needed)
  
• Latex highly caustic to the skin, possibly poisonous if ingested
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
  
• Seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
  
• Able to coppice and resprout after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization (with the possible exception of Oahu), but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Limited ecological information makes accurate risk prediction difficult