Family: Poaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in subtropical climates
  
• Naturalized (persisting and spreading after cultivation) in Japan, Taiwan and potentially elsewhere
  
• A potential landscaping weed
  
• An environmental weed in Japan and China (impacts diversity and ecosystem processes)
  
• Other Phyllostachys species are invasive
  
• Allelopathic
  
• Host of bamboo borer
  
• Forms dense monocultures, excluding other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds (rarely) and vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Self-compatible (but rarely flowers)
  
• May be dispersed by rhizome fragments, and intentionally by people
  
• Able to resprout after repeated cutting and pruning

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Valued for food, as an ornamental and for construction material
  
• Reaches maturity after several decades of growth (67 years documented)
  
• Lack of flowering for much of life cycle limits potential for long distance dispersal
  
• Herbicides provide effective control on congeneric taxa