Family: Cyperaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and latitudinal range
- Grows in tropical climates
- Naturalized on Lanai (Hawaiian Islands)
- Potential agricultural and environmental weed
- Other Cyperus species are invasive
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
- Seeds dispersed as a contaminant in wool, by water, and possibly by other means
- Able to resprout after fire
- Gaps in biological and ecological information reduce accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable to grazing animals
- Non-toxic
- Herbicides may provide effective control