Family: Acanthaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Broad elevation range in tropical climates
  
• Thrives and can spread in regions with tropical climates
  
• Reported to be naturalized in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Florida, but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date
  
• Other biologically and ecologically similar Odontonema species are invasive weeds
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by stem segments or root-suckers
  
• Seeds dispersed explosively from dehiscent pods, possibly through water and aided by wind, and through intentional cultivation
  
• Vegetative fragments may also be spread in dumped garden waste, or water
  
• May be able to resprout after cutting or damage

Low Risk Traits:

• No negative impacts documented for this species to date
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Adapted for hummingbird pollination. Other pollinators may be less effective, resulting in reduced seed set in areas lacking hummingbirds
  
• Reduced seed set in cultivation may reduce risk of escape or accidental dispersal