Family: Malpighiaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Naturalizing on Hawaii Island, and Florida (confirmation needed)
  
• Targeted for control in Florida
  
• Other Heteropterys species are regarded as weeds
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Climbing and smothering growth habit
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
  
• Limited ecological information reduces accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• Limited reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but limited evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Ornamental