Family: Solanaceae
High Risk Traits:
- In the Hawaiian Islands, primarily a weed of dry, disturbed sites, cultivated areas, pastures, and rangelands, and not reported to be a significant weed of natural areas.
- Broad climate suitability
- Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates.
- Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawai'i (Hawaiian Islands) and widely naturalized elsewhere.
- A disturbance and agricultural weed of many crops worldwide
- Other Datura species are invasive weeds.
- Allelopathic properties
- Unpalatable to browsing and grazing animals
- Toxic to animals (if accidentally ingested) and people.
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Reproduces by seeds only.
- Hybridizes with other Datura species.
- Self-fertile
- Annual life cycle, reaching maturity in one growing season.
- Seeds dispersed by water, as a crop contaminant, and in soil stuck to machinery and animals.
- Prolific seed production (30,000/year)
- Seeds may form a persistent seed bank (up to 40 years)
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Herbicides may provide effective control.
- Mechanical control may also be effective.
