Family: Cactaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Other Opuntia species are invasive
  
• Forms dense thickets in native range
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by fallen trunks and cladodes
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and other frugivorous animals
  
• Limited ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Spiny
  
• Seedlings palatable
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Reportedly self-incompatible