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
