Family: Marantaceae
High Risk Traits:
- A single plant escape reported from Puerto Rico
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Shade-tolerant
- Reproduces by seeds (rarely in cultivation) and vegetatively by suckers
- May be self-compatible
- Seeds, if produced, may be dispersed by ants and intentionally by people
- Seeds, if produced, may persist in the soil
- Limited ecological information may limit accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, despite widespread cultivation outside native range
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Ornamental
- Limited fruit and seed production in cultivation
- Requires specialized pollinators
- Limited seed production reduces risk of inadvertent dispersal