Hawaii residents are urged to use the Pest Hotline to promptly report sightings of invasive pests such as snakes, unusually aggressive stinging ants, and illegal or unknown animals. Call 643-PEST (643-7378)
Woody shrub when young, grows into climbing, leafy cactus, with branches are up to 11m (33 ft) long
Fragrant flowers (can be lemon, sweet, or repulsive smelling) and round yellow-red berries
Native to the West Indies and the northern coast of South America, introduced intentionally for horticulture (as an ornamental or for its fruit)
Harm:
Forms dense, thorny thickets in low elevations, overgrows and replaces other plants
Spread by birds and animals that eat the fruit
Has become a major weed in South Africa where it is an escaped ornamental
In Hawaii:
Molokai: Present if Halawa Valley. MoMISC is working to eradicate this species.
Oahu: Known from cultivation at experiment stations in Honolulu and Haleiwa. Not currently an OISC target. Landowners are asked to remove this pest and replace with a non-invasive alternate.
Kauai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Big Island: presence/absence unknown.
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