Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Grows, and could potentially spread, in regions with tropical climates
- Unconfirmed reports of naturalization (but no evidence in Hawaiian Islands)
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms pure stands in native range
- Reproduces by seeds (after many years or decades of vegetative growth)
- Hybridizes with other bamboo species
- Prolific seed production (after decades of vegetative growth)
- Resprouts after repeated cutting and harvesting
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of naturalization in the Hawaiian Islands, and no evidence of negative impacts where cultivated
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable to animals and people
- Non-toxic
- A clumping bamboo that spreads vegetatively only locally
- Reaches maturity after several decades of growth
- Lack of flowering for much of life cycle limits potential for long distance dispersal