Family: Acanthaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi
  
• Environmental weed destroying rainforests in Australia
  
• Congeneric species are common weeds
  
• Climbing vine that smothers trees
  
• Shade tolerant (invades forest understory)
  
• Tolerates wide range of soils (sandy, clay, acidic, alkaline, salty)
  
• Reproduces vegetatively via stem/root fragments
  
• Dispersed intentionally as ornamental
  
• Dispersed unintentionally via dumped garden cuttings
  
• Resprouts vigorously from tubers after pruning or damage

Low Risk Traits:

• Lacks spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-parasitic, non-toxic
  
• Low seed production (often fails to set seed)
  
• Seeds not wind-, bird-, or water-dispersed
  
• No evidence of seed survival through animal guts