Family: Acanthaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and elsewhere
  
• A disturbance weed with possible impacts to agriculture and the natural environment
  
• Other Barleria species have become invasive
  
• Spinose bracts
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Can form dense stands (Hawaiian Islands)
  
• Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence of capsules, as well as secondarily by water, and possibly by attachment to people, animals or machinery
  
• Able to spread vegetatively by branches that root when touching the ground
  
• Can be spread by discarded garden clippings
  
• Able to resprout after cutting, pruning or fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-toxic
  
• Valued for ornamental and medicinal uses