Family: Arecaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Began naturalizing on Tahiti, until control was initiated
- Fast-growing and disturbance adapted
- Spines along the bases of its leaves
- Tolerates many soil types
- Numerous, small seeds (for a palm) dispersed by birds and intentionally by people
- Limited ecological information makes accurate risk prediction difficult
Low Risk Traits:
- Not currently documented to be naturalized outside its native range
- Non-toxic
- Shade-intolerant
- Ornamental
- Dioecious
- Not reported to spread vegetatively