High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Hawaii and elsewhere
  
• An agricultural and disturbance-adapted weed
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Can from dense monocultures
  
• Hybridizes naturally
  
• Limited self-compatibility
  
• Able to reach maturity in 1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence of pods, and moved further by water and people
  
• Tolerates repeated cutting and browsing, and coppices vigorously

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines or thorns)
  
• Palatable to animals and an important fodder plant
  
• Seed set may be pollinator-limited