Family: Euphorbiaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in Australia, Africa, and possibly elsewhere (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
  
• Regarded as invasive in Australia and Africa, potentially impacting native biodiversity
  
• Trunks covered with conical spines
  
• Unpalatable to animals
  
• Toxic to animals and people; Caustic sap may cause blistering and temporary blindness
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Capable of forming dense stands
  
• Reproduces by seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence of fruit; seeds also moved by water
  
• Intentionally cultivated by people
  
• Tolerant of cutting and fire

Low Risk Traits:

• May take 4 or more years to reach maturity
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Relatively large seeds, while explosively dispersed up to 61 m from parent tree, are not likely to be dispersed longer distances without human assistance