Family: Urticaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Naturalized in mid- to high elevation areas in the tropics
- Widely naturalized, including on Oahu and Hawaii island, Hawaii
- A disturbance adapted agricultural weed of numerous crops
- Other Utrica species have become invasive
- Stinging hair affect animals and humans
- Relatively unpalatable, although some animals may consume occasionally
- Reportedly flammable in certain habitats
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reported to form dense stands in certain crops
- Reproduces by seeds in one growing season (annual)
- Seeds dispersed in soil, as a contaminant, ingested by animals and intentionally by people
- Prolific seed production
- Forms a persistent seed bank (20-100 years)
Low Risk Traits:
- Due to predominantly temperate range, may only become invasive at higher elevations of tropical regions
- Despite stinging hairs, non-toxic if ingested by animals
- Used medicinally by people
- Require high light environments (may be Shade-intolerant)
- Reported to be outcrossing
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Seeds do not float in water
- Herbicides provide effective control
