Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and environmental versatility
- Naturalized in regions with subtropical climates
- Widely naturalized (but no evidence from Hawaiian Islands to date)
- Disturbance and agricultural weed
- Other Ambrosia species are invasive
- Allelopathic
- Unpalatable at certain stages of growth
- Alternate host of grape pathogenic bacteria
- Allergenic pollen
- Fire hazard
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense stands
- Geophyte life form
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
- Reaches maturity in 2nd growing season
- Seeds dispersed externally in mud stuck to equipment, vehicles and animals
- Seeds persist in the soil for many years
- Able to resprout after cutting and fire
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Limited seed production
- Herbicides provide effective control