Family: Athyriaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized on main Hawaiian Islands, and elsewhere
- A weedy fern reported to threaten endangered plants in Hawaii and Reunion Island
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- May form dense ground cover that can exclude or compete with rare native plants in the Hawaiian Islands
- Reproduces by prolific spore production, and vegetatively by creeping rhizomes
- Spores dispersed by wind, water, as a pot contaminant, and intentionally and accidentally by people
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Reported to be edible to people