Family: Cyperaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Able to grow in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized (or possibly native) in the Hawaiian Islands, and New Zealand
  
• Regarded as an environmental weed
  
• Other Schoenoplectus species are invasive
  
• Possibly allelopathic
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense thickets in native and introduced ranges
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rhizomes
  
• Seeds and vegetative fragments dispersed by water
  
• In addition to water, seeds may be dispersed by wind, contaminated soil and feed, machinery, and wildlife

Low Risk Traits:

• Where native, an important component of wetland habitat
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Seed production may be limited and may limit dispersal potential
  
• Non-toxic and palatable to animals and humans
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control