Family: Rosaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized and invasive in tropical regions globally
  
• Forms dense, impenetrable, thorny thickets
  
• Documented agricultural, environmental, and disturbance weed
  
• Broad climate suitability (tropical/subtropical to zone 8)
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soil types and pH levels
  
• Shade tolerant at some stages
  
• Reproduces by prolific seeds and vegetatively via root suckers
  
• Seeds bird-dispersed and can survive gut passage
  
• Produces >1000 seeds/m²
  
• Forms a persistent soil seed bank
  
• Resprouts after cutting or fire
  
• Difficult to control with herbicides

Low Risk Traits:

• Not allelopathic or parasitic
  
• Not toxic to humans or animals
  
• Palatable to grazing animals (despite thorns)
  
• Does not create a fire hazard