Family: Melastomataceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Weedy habit in native range
  
• Environmental weed in Hawaiian Islands, threatening endangered plants
  
• Medicinal, but may cause diarrhea if eaten in excess
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Sprawling growth smothers smaller plants in pastures and along forest edges
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Small seeds likely dispersed along trails, and possibly by water or wind
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank
  
• Gaps in biological and ecological information limit accuracy or risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder to deer in native range
  
• Ornamental
  
• Herbicides provide effective control (e.g. foliar applied triclopyr at 1 lb/acre)