Family: Malvaceae

Carpodiptera cubensis, also known as mountain-pear or telcon (and sometimes listed as Berrya cubensis), is a medium-sized tree native to the Caribbean region, especially Cuba. It grows with a straight trunk and a rounded crown, producing simple leaves and small, pale flowers that develop into distinctive pear-shaped fruits—hence its common name. In its home range, the wood has been used locally for light construction, carpentry, and fuel, and the tree is sometimes valued as a shade or ornamental species due to its tidy form and interesting fruit.

At this time, Carpodiptera cubensis is not known to be invasive in Hawai‘i or elsewhere, and there is little evidence of traits that suggest a high risk of spread. It does not have a record of naturalizing outside its native range, and its fruits are not known to be dispersed widely by animals. While any introduced tree should be planted with awareness, especially near natural areas, this species currently presents no significant threats to Hawaiian ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Suited to tropical/subtropical climates
  
• Wind-dispersed seeds

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized
  
• Not a known weed
  
• No spines/thorns
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Dioecious
  
• No prolific seed production
  
• No seed bank
  
• No vegetative spread
  
• Not adapted for animal dispersal