Family: Cucurbitaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Listed as a weed of unspecified impacts in Peru (within native range)
  
• Related species are invasive and weedy
  
• Seeds may be toxic to animals and people
  
• Climbing and possibly smothering habit
  
• Reaches maturity quickly (<1 year)
  
• Seeds wind-dispersed

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of naturalization documented outside native range.
  
• Requires full sun to thrive
  
• Medicinal uses
  
• Fibrous interior used as a rough cloth or sponge
  
• Relatively large fruits and seeds may limit dispersal potential
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control