Family: Acanthaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Widely naturalized
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Environmental weed in Australia
- Related species are invasive
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
- Forms monospecific stands
- Self-fertile
- Reaches maturity in 1 year
- Will regenerate from small pieces of stem
- Seeds spread by water, wind, humans, contaminated soil and garden refuse dumping."
- Will resprout after repeated cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Landscaping and ornamental value