Family: Malvaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Forms dense (but not pure) stands in native range
  
• Reproduces by seeds and resprouts from cut stumps
  
• Arillate seeds may be dispersed by birds or ants (uncertain)
  
• Cut stumps of the tree often send up new shoots

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but limited evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• May require specialized pollinators (bats and possibly birds)
  
• Reaches maturity in 5+ years
  
• Seeds lose viability in <12 months and are unlikely to produce a persistent seed bank