Family: Melastomataceae
An invasive shrub.
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized outside native range (no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date. Melastoma septemnervium now recognized as naturalized (Melastoma malabathricum (Misapplied)]
- A disturbance-adapted weed that impacts agriculture
- Other Melastoma species are invasive
- Potentially allelopathic
- Unpalatable to browsing animals
- Potentially indirectly toxic if heavy metals are accumulated in vegetative material
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- May hybridize
- Self-compatible
- Reaches maturity in <1 year
- Seeds dispersed by birds, frugivorous animals, intentionally by people, and probably unintentionally as a contaminant in soil, agricultural crops, or attached to footwear or equipment
- Prolific seed production
- Seeds can persist in soil for at least 2 years
- Able to resprout after cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Light-demanding pioneer plant
- Ornamental
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides may provide effective control
