Family: Fabaceae

Calliandra houstoniana var. Calothyrsus (calliandra, kaliana) is a small to medium sized tree native to Mexico and Central America. This weedy plant is used for fuel, livestock feed, honey production, and less commonly as green manure and a shade tree. It also is used for erosion control and intercropping in banana, maize, and coconut plantations due to its nitrogen fixing capabilities. It is reported to be naturalized in Indonesia and on the islands of Kauaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui and Hawaiʻi. However, despite its usefulness, Calliandra is an aggressive colonizer of disturbed habitats. It has become invasive in Hawaiʻi, Uganda, and the Dominican Republic. This species is hardy and does well in poor soils, increasing its ability to spread. It outcompetes surrounding vegetation by forming dense stands which use up water and nutrients in the area. These qualities may cause this species to become invasive in other countries in the future.

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
  
• Potentially allelopathic
  
• 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