Family: Fabaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Widely naturalized outside native range
  
• Disturbance-adapted weed with negative environmental impacts
  
• Host for crop pathogens
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Smothers other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively at nodes
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Seeds dispersed by animals (internally), intentionally by people, secondarily by water and as a contaminant of soil, garden waste or other fodder
  
• Able to reach maturity quickly (in 12 months)
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Hard-coated seeds capable of forming a persistent seed bank (longevity unknown)
  
• Intolerant of heavy grazing, but tolerates fire

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Shade reduces productivity (thrives in high light environments)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control