Family: Acanthaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability, and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in a number of locations (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
  
• A weed of roadsides, waste places, fields and potentially of agriculture
  
• Allelopathic
  
• May be allergenic to some people
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Perennial, but able to reach maturity in one growing season
  
• Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite naturalization and weediness, valued for medicinal properties
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for goats and possibly other livestock