Family: Arecaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu (Hawaiian Islands), Panama and possibly elsewhere
  
• Regarded as weedy and invasive by nursery growers, and potentially an environmental weed in Panama and Florida
  
• Host of several palm pests and pathogens, including the coconut rhinoceros beetle
  
• Handling fruit may irritate skin
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, bats, potentially by water and intentionally by people
  
• Prolific seed production, with thousands of seedlings reported from at least on location on Oahu

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite ability to naturalize, and weediness in some locations, prized as an ornamental and landscaping tree
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Fruit and seeds fed to livestock
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Long time to reproductive maturity (5+ years)
  
• Herbicides may be effective at controlling unwanted trees
  
• Mechanical control effective