Family: Commelinaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Possibly naturalizing on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (confirmation needed)
- Latex highly caustic to the skin, possibly poisonous if ingested
- Tolerates many soil types
- Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
- Seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
- Able to coppice and resprout after cutting
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization (with the possible exception of Oahu(), but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
- Ornamental
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Limited ecological information makes accurate risk prediction difficult