Family: Proteaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized in New Zealand (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
- Other Leucadendron species are naturalized and may be weedy
- Tolerates many soil types as long as they are well-drained
- Reproduces by seeds
- Can reach maturity in as little as 2 years
- Seeds dispersed by wind, possibly by rodents and intentionally by people
- Seeds remain in cones on tree for a year or more, and may persist in the soil for 80 years
Low Risk Traits:
- Native to a region with a Mediterranean climate; could limit ability to spread in Hawaiian Islands or other tropical island ecosystems
- No reports of negative impacts where naturalized or introduced
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Prefers full sun (would limit spread into dense forests)
- Dioecious
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Large seeds are wind-dispersed only short distances and are unlikely to be accidentally dispersed
- Serotinous seeds remain in tree cones until fire, or hot dry conditions cause them to be released (limits ability to disperse and naturalize)
- Killed by fire and disturbance to roots (traits which would minimize invasiveness)
