Family: Malvaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized on Oahu, and East Maui, Hawaiian Islands
- Naturalized in Australia
- Thrives in tropical climates
- 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
- A facultative self-pollinator
- May reach reproductive maturity in less than 1 year
- Seeds dispersed accidentally along roads, by wind, water, birds and by passage through cattle, among other vectors
- Seeds may persist in soil
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite ability to spread, evidence of negative impacts are generally not reported or unspecified
- Fodder tree
- Non-toxic foliage (although seeds may be toxic)
- Shade-intolerant
- Important commercial crop