Family: Melastomataceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Blakea parasitica is native to a broad region extending from Costa Rica through northern South America to northern Brazil. It is a tropical woody plant in the Melastomataceae family, typically found in humid forest environments where it may grow as an epiphyte or hemiepiphytic shrub on trees. The plant is known for its attractive foliage and ornamental appeal, and in its native range it is occasionally appreciated for its showy flowers and unique growth habit. Because of its unusual form and tropical aesthetic, it has potential interest in specialty horticulture and botanical collections.

Risks & Threats:
Although Blakea parasitica is currently not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it does possess traits that are cause for concern in tropical island ecosystems. Its ability to grow on host trees and persist in shaded, humid forest conditions raises the possibility that it could establish in native wet forest habitats if introduced more widely. Species with similar life histories can compete with native epiphytes and alter forest structure, especially in moisture-rich environments where dispersal conditions are favorable. For these reasons, caution is warranted, and selecting low-risk or native alternatives is strongly recommended whenever suitable options are available to help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Semi-parasitic (steals minerals from hosts)
  
• Shade-tolerant (cloud forest species)
  
• Self-compatible (produces viable seed without outcrossing)
  
• Bird-dispersed seeds
  
• Seeds survive gut passage
  
• Prolific seed production (numerous tiny seeds)

Low Risk Traits:

• No naturalization or weed history
  
• No weedy congeners
  
• Lacks spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-toxic
  
• No vegetative spread
  
• Not dispersed by wind, water, external animal attachment, or as a contaminant