Family: Cyatheaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Able to grow in subtropical climates
- Other Cyathea species have become invasive
- Unpalatable to grazing animals
- Possible toxic properties (unverified)
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by spores
- Spores dispersed by wind, possibly water, and intentionally planted by people
- Prolific spore production
- Spores may persist in the soil for >1 year
- Possibly able to resprout after cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Grows on acidic soils
- Ornamental
- Not reported to spread vegetatively