Family: Anacardiaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Widespread naturalization beyond native range (tropics/subtropics globally).
- Naturalized across the Hawaiian Islands, including Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll), Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi.
- Environmental weed that forms dense thickets, displacing native vegetation.
- Agricultural weed impacting grazing lands.
- Congeneric weed
- Allelopathic – produces chemicals that suppress other plants.
- Toxic – unripe fruits fatal to horses; causes skin/respiratory reactions in humans.
- Shade tolerant – can survive under canopies until gaps appear.
- Broad soil tolerance (fine to coarse textures).
- Vegetative reproduction – resprouts from trunk and roots.
- Bird-dispersed seeds – widely spread via gut passage.
- Early reproduction – can flower within 3 years.
- Resprouts after fire (~20% of seedlings).
- Prolific seed production (~80,600 seeds/kg)
Low Risk Traits:
- Dioecious (male and female on separate plants)
- No spines, thorns, or burrs.
- Palatable to goats (foliage browsed without ill effects).
- Not a fire hazard – recommended as fire-resistant barrier.
- Short seed bank longevity – viability drops to near zero within 5 months.
