Family: Blechnaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands
  
• A disturbance-adapted weedy fern with potential impacts on agriculture
  
• Other Blechnum species have become invasive
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by spores and possibly vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Spores dispersed by wind and water. Intentionally cultivated by people
  
• Prolific spore production

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to deer
  
• Edible and medicinal uses for humans
  
• Ornamental