Family: Acanthaceae

Odontonema callistachyum (firespike, purple firespike) is a species of small shrub and herbaceous perennial native to Mexico and Central America and is now naturalized in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Florida.It is not documented to be naturalized on any Hawaiian Islands to date. They are popular as an ornamental used in gardens, and the flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This plant is capable of spreading quickly, through vegetative fragments, stem segments, root suckers and seed pods. However it is adapted for hummingbird pollination, therefore other pollinators may be less effective, resulting in reduced seed set in Hawaiʻi which lacks hummingbirds.

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