Family: Malvaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range can exceed 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands)
  
• A disturbance-adapted, weedy pioneer tree, with potential negative impacts to native ecosystems of Hawaii
  
• Other Melochia species are invasive
  
• Shade tolerant (able to establish in forest understory)
  
• Forms dense thickets
  
• Reproduces by seed
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind, as a contaminant of road fill, possibly by water, and intentionally seeded by people
  
• No natural enemies documented in the Hawaiian Islands

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control