Family: Cucurbitaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 2000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Regarded as a troublesome weed in cultivated settings, fields and greenhouse settings
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Smothering habit
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes and bulbils
  
• Able to reach maturity in one growing season
  
• Seeds possibly dispersed by birds or other fruit-eating animals
  
• Limited ecological information reduces accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of naturalization despite anecdotal reports of weediness
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to animals
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Used medicinally and as a tea
  
• Dioecious; requires male and female plants for seed production