Family: Fabaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized and invasive in Australia, with potential negative impacts to native ecosystems (may compete with and exclude native vegetation)
  
• Other Retama species are invasive
  
• May be toxic to animals and people if ingested
  
• Edible, despite potential toxicity, but palatability is low
  
• May increase fire risk in arid environments
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Nitrogen fixing (may modify soil nutrients)
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Reaches maturity in 2+ years
  
• Seeds dispersed by water, internally by animals, as a soil contaminant, and intentionally by people
  
• Prolific seed production (up to 3000/m2)
  
• Forms a persistent seed bank (5-20 years longevity)
  
• Resprouts after cutting, and low intensity fires

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
  
• Grows in arid, high light environments (may be unable to spread into dense, intact forest)
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control