Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don.,
Mem. Wern. Soc. 4 (1823)
Latin for 'hairy'.
Description
Shrub up to 3 m tall and 2 cm dbh. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite, simple,
tripli-veined, hairy, margin toothed. Flowers ca. 12 mm diameter, white, placed
in panicles. Fruits ca. 5 mm diameter, blue-purple, fleshy berry.
Ecology
In disturbed habitats, including keranga, mixed dipterocarp and peat-swamp
forests up to 300 m altitude. Often found along roads and rivers and alluvial
sites, but also on hillsides and ridges. On sandy soils, but also on limestone.
Distribution
Pan-tropical, but originally from Neotropics and southern United States. In
Borneo collected in Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah and East-Kalimantan, but probably
occurring throughout the island. This species is a notorious pest around the
tropics.
Local names in Borneo
Bahang, Kunceng batu, Oduk-oduk batu.
