Family: Solanaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized on Maui, Hawaiian Islands and possibly elsewhere
- A Hawaii state noxious weed, invading pastures
- Other Solanum species have become invasive
- Armed with strong prickles
- Forms impenetrable thickets
- Reproduces by seeds
- Self-compatible
- Can reach reproductive maturity in <1 year
- Seeds dispersed by birds, frugivorous mammals and intentionally by people
Low Risk Traits:
- Ornamental (widely grown in botanical gardens, occasionally grown as a novelty because of handsome leaves and winged petioles and stems)
- Herbicides may provide effective control