Family: Urticaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Naturalized in mid- to high elevation areas in the tropics
  
• Widely naturalized (but no evidence from Hawaiian Islands)
  
• A disturbance adapted agricultural weed of numerous crops
  
• Other Utrica species have become invasive
  
• Stinging hair affect animals and humans
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reported to form dense stands
  
• Reproduces by seeds in two growing seasons
  
• Spreads vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Seeds dispersed attached to clothing, fur, or feathers, as a produce contaminant, by water, potentially by wind, and internally by animals
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank (at least 5 years)
  
• Resprouts after fires (but does not withstand repeated cutting)

Low Risk Traits:

• Due to predominantly temperate range, may only become invasive at higher elevations of tropical regions
  
• Consumed by animals despite stinging hairs
  
• Dioecious
  
• Herbicides provide effective control