Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Widely naturalized in Hawaiʻi and other tropical/subtropical regions
- Considered a serious environmental weed in Hawaiʻi; shades out native vegetation
- Forms monotypic stands and can dominate disturbed to mesic habitats
- Exhibits allelopathic effects – soil and leaf extracts inhibit germination of other plants
- Toxic compounds present (including alkaloids like DMT) – unsafe for consumption
- Unpalatable to livestock and not suitable as fodder
- Nitrogen-fixing tree, which can alter soil chemistry and favor further spread
- Produces hard-coated seeds that persist in the soil for years and germinate after fire
- Resprouts vigorously after fire or cutting, making management difficult
- Propagated and spread intentionally by people for ornamental and reforestation purposes
- Hosts a wide range of fungal pathogens (potential plant health risk)
Low Risk Traits:
- Does not produce spines, thorns, or burrs
- Not fire-promoting; stands are generally fire resistant
- Does not appear to be dispersed by wind, water, or animals (seeds are passively dispersed)
- Seed production is not extremely prolific (<1000/m²)
- Populations in some locations have been successfully controlled with herbicides
