Family: Solanaceae
Solandra maxima (cup of gold vine, golden chalice vine), is a vigorous woody vine native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Often cultivated as an ornamental plant, it is now reported to be sparingly naturalized in Australia, and either naturalizing or persisting in the Hawaiian Islands. Its large yellow flowers are adapted for bat pollination, which likely accounts for its limited seed production where bat pollinators are absent. This lack of seed production may slow or prevent it from fully naturalizing in the Hawaiian Islands, but its aggressive growth, ability to spread vegetatively, and its toxic properties, may still create problems near natural or unmanaged areas.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad elevation range in tropical climates, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives and persists in regions with tropical climates
- Sparingly naturalized in Australia, and possibly naturalized or persisting in the Hawaiian Islands
- Aggressive and can be a nuisance when grown near natural or unmanaged areas.
- Possibly unpalatable.
- Toxic to animals and people.
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Climbing and potentially smothering growth habit
- Reproduces by seeds (rarely in cultivation without bat pollinators)
- Reproduces vegetatively by rooting at nodes
- Seeds if produced, are likely dispersed by birds and other frugivorous animals (based on fruit morphology)
- Tolerates and resprouts after severe pruning (likely making mechanical control difficult or ineffective)
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Prefers full sun or high light environments (dense shade may inhibit or prevent spread)
- Pollinated by bats within its native range, limiting seed set in regions (such as the Hawaiian Islands) where pollinators are absent
- Limited (or lack of) seed production minimizes the risk of long distance or accidental dispersal