Family: Fabaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability. Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized in Florida, Mauritius and possibly elsewhere (native range uncertain)
- Regarded as weedy and aggressive in Florida landscapes
- A potential agricultural and environmental weed (impacts unclear)
- Leaves and seeds potentially toxic to animals and people (although leaves used as fodder)
- Shade-tolerant (could potentially invade intact forest)
- Tolerates many soil types
- N-fixing (may alter soil chemistry)
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by root suckers
- Self-compatible
- Seeds dispersed by water and intentionally by people
- Seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
- Able to coppice and resprout after cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite reports of invasiveness, evidence of detrimental impacts in natural or agricultural settings is not well-documented in the peer-reviewed literature
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
- Valuable as a biofuel feedstock
- Reaches maturity in 4-7 years
- Relatively large seed size may reduce risk of accidental or long-distance dispersal (especially if not grown near water or riparian areas)