Family: Asteraceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability, and elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Widely naturalized in Hawaiian Islands and worldwide in regions with tropical and subtropical climates
- Disturbance-adapted weed of numerous agricultural crops
- Allelopathic
- Host of several important crop pathogens
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds
- Self-fertile
- Able to reach maturity in <1 year
- Seeds dispersed by wind, internally by animals, attached to vehicles, and as a crop contaminant
- Prolific seed production
- Some seeds may persist in seed bank beyond 1 year
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Herbicides may provide effective control
