Family: Cactaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in arid tropical climates
- Naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and possibly elsewhere
- Can invade pasture and reduce grazing potential
- May compete with native vegetation
- Other Cereus species have become invasive
- Spiny
- Unconfirmed reports of toxicity
- Can form dense stands
- Seeds dispersed by birds, frugivorous animals and intentionally by people
- Able to reach maturity from seed in 3-5 years
- May be able to spread by vegetative fragments
Low Risk Traits:
- Ornamental uses and edible fruit
- Self-incompatible
- Seeds lose viability quickly