Family: Fabaceae

Ticanto crista (gray nicker), formerly known as Caesalpinia crista, is a sprawling, thorny vine or shrub native to tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It grows with long, climbing stems armed with hooked prickles and produces bright yellow flowers followed by hard, rounded gray seeds that are often used in crafts, games, and traditional medicine. This species typically grows in coastal or lowland tropical habitats and can form dense, tangled thickets where it becomes established.

In Hawai‘i, Ticanto crista is not currently known to be naturalized, but it is rated High Risk due to characteristics commonly associated with invasive behavior. Its vigorous growth, thorny scrambling habit, and buoyant seeds that disperse long distances raise concerns that it could spread and impact coastal or disturbed environments if introduced. Although no local impacts have been recorded, its high-risk rating signals a strong potential for harm, and it should be avoided for planting in Hawai‘i.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized beyond native range, including O'ahu
  
• Climbing/smothering growth habit
  
• Forms dense thickets
  
• Has spines/thorns
  
• Tolerates wide soil pH range
  
• Propagules dispersed by water
  
• Forms persistent seed bank
  
• Congener is invasive
  
• Unpalatable to grazers (thorny)
  
• High tropical/subtropical climate match

Low Risk Traits:

• Not toxic to animals or humans
  
• Shade-intolerant
  
• Low seed production per pod
  
• Self-incompatible
  
• No known vegetative reproduction