Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability, and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Naturalized in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on all main Hawaiian Islands and widely naturalized elsewhere
- Often regarded as an escaped, weedy plant of crops and disturbed natural areas, but generally innocuous or desirable plant
- Other Medicago species are invasive
- Allelopathic
- May cause bloat and other diseases of grazing animals, but generally a desired, palatable plant
- Tolerates many soil types (not limited by substrate)
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
- Self-fertile varieties may exist
- Able to reach maturity in one growing season
- Seeds dispersed internally by animals, potentially as a crop contaminant and water and intentionally by people
- Seeds long lived, and may form a persistent seed bank
- Able to resprout after fire
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of weediness, generally regarded as a desirable pasture plant
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Relatively shade intolerant
- Sensitive to herbicides, which may provide effective control if removal is desired
