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