Family: Cactaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Able to grow in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in Florida, and Puerto Rico. Naturalizing on Hawaii Island
  
• Spiny
  
• Spines may deter browsing
  
• Younger plants Shade-tolerant, Older plants thrive in full sun
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by fallen pads
  
• Seeds dispersed by fruit-eating animals and intentionally by people
  
• Limited ecological information outside native range may reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental uses and edible fruit
  
• Seeds relatively large, which may limit accidental dispersal
  
• Fruit may ripen after falling to ground, which could limit bird dispersal