Family: Amaranthaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives, and able to spread in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized in the continental US and Cabo Verde islands, but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date
- A crop weed of cereals, cotton, orchards, plantations, pastures, and vegetables
- Other Celosia species are invasive
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Annual life cycle, reaching maturity in 90-120 days
- Seeds dispersed by gravity, water, and people (intentionally and accidentally)
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite common reports of weediness, impacts appear to be manageable
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Non-toxic
- Despite weediness, also valued as a vegetable and medicinal plant
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides may provide effective control