Family: Fabaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands
  
• Naturalized in Australia
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Seeds may be toxic to animals
  
• Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
  
• Host of pests and pathogens
  
• Capable of hybridization with other Gossypium species including G. tomentosum
  
• A facultative self-pollinator
  
• May reach reproductive maturity in less than 1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed accidentally along roads, by wind, possibly water and by passage through cattle, among other vectors
  
• May be able to resprout following cutting

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite ability to spread, evidence of negative impacts are generally not reported or unspecified
  
• Palatable
  
• Non-toxic foliage (although seeds may be toxic)
  
• Shade-intolerant
  
• Important commercial crop
  
• Seeds apparently do not persist in the soil