Family: Arecaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalizing outside of a botanical garden in Panama (within native range)
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
  
• Forms dense and extensive stands
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Fruits consumed and seeds dispersed by birds and mammals
  
• Seeds also water dispersed
  
• Produces suckers and resprouts after cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• No negative impacts have been documented
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Commercially valuable fruit (edible and source of juice)
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value
  
• Reaches reproductive maturity in 4+ years
  
• Will not form a persistent seed bank