Family: Solanaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability
- Native to and naturalized in regions with temperate to tropical climates
- Naturalized on Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii (Hawaiian Islands) and widely naturalized elsewhere
- In Hawaii, a weed of dry pastures, coastal to dry shrubland and dry forest
- An agricultural weed of pastures, displacing other plants and hindering movement of people and animals
- An environmental weed in Australia, competing with native plants and harboring invasive species like rabbits
- A potential environmental weed in the Hawaiian Islands
- Other Solanum species are invasive weeds
- Armed with prominent, stout, nearly straight, straw-colored prickles
- Possibly allelopathic
- Toxic to animals and people (but rarely, if ever, consumed)
- Unpalatable to grazing animals (due to prickles)
- Forms dense thickets
- Reproduces by seeds
- Self-fertile
- Reaches maturity in 2 years
- Fruits not consumed by birds or other animals, but fruit and seeds may be dispersed by attaching to machinery and animals, soil movement, water, and potentially as a contaminant
- Prolific seed production (ca. 1500/plant)
- Seeds may persist in the soil for 1 to 2 or more years
- May resprout without herbicide treatment
Low Risk Traits:
- Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
- Herbicides may provide effective control
