Family: Fabaceae
Brownea grandiceps (rose of venezuela, scarlet flame bean) is a tropical tree species native to South America. It acts as an understory tree in the Amazon rainforest, and is shade tolerant. It is a very striking ornamental tree, and is prized for its blossoms. Although its wood is not hard or durable, it is sometimes used to make light boxes or toys. In Venezuelan traditional medicine, the blossoms of Brownea grandiceps are used to alleviate menorrhagia, a condition characterized by excessive menstrual bleeding. This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date.
High Risk Traits:
- Grows, and could potentially spread, in regions with tropical climates
- A shade-tolerant, understory tree that could potentially establish in intact forests
- N-fixing (could affect soil nutrient levels)
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds dispersed by gravity, water, and through intentional cultivation by people
Low Risk Traits:
- Widely cultivated, with no reports of naturalization or invasiveness
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Pollinated by hummingbirds (lack of effective pollinators may limit seed set)
- Slow growing
- Relatively large pods and seeds may limit long distant, or accidental dispersal
- Seeds reported to lose viability quickly (may limit ability to form a seed bank)
