Family: Arecaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized & invasive in Florida (Category II)
  
• Tolerates wide range of soils
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Viable seed production
  
• Intentionally planted for landscaping
  
• Bird-dispersed (also raccoons & opossums)
  
• Seeds survive gut passage

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No toxicity or allelopathy
  
• No vegetative spread (solitary trunk)
  
• Slow to mature (~4+ years to reproduce)
  
• No persistent seed bank (<3 months germination)
  
• Not wind or water dispersed
  
• Low seed output (<1000/m²)
  
• Killed by cutting (no regrowth benefit)