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clidemia

Scientific Name: Clidemia

Family: Melastomataceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Clidemia hirta: An Overview

Clidemia hirta, commonly known as soapbush or Koster's Curse, is a perennial shrub that has garnered attention as an invasive species in many tropical regions.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant contains toxic tannins.

Considerations for Children

  • The stems are covered with red bristles.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

  • Scientific Name: Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don
  • Family: Melastomataceae
  • Synonyms/Common Names: Soapbush, Koster's Curse, Soap Bush, Clidemia, Hairy Clidemia

Distribution and Habitat

  • Originates in humid tropical Central and South America.
  • Introduced to many parts of the tropics.
  • Considered a weed on many oceanic islands and a significant weed in Queensland.
  • Invasive in tropical forest understories.

Ecological Role

  • Classified as an invasive plant species in many tropical regions.
  • Smith (1985) ranks Clidemia hirta as one of the most disruptive alien plant species in Hawaii.
  • Invades gaps in the forest.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Densely branching long-lived (perennial) shrub.
  • Normally grows 0.5-3 m tall, but sometimes reaches 5 m in height, depending on habitat.
  • Can be scrambling and less than 1 m tall in windy areas.
  • Stems are covered with red bristles.
  • Leaves have 5-to-7 veins.

Quirky Facts

  • The common name "Koster's Curse" may be a case of mistaken blame.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Neotropical bird-dispersed; fruits are eaten by birds such as the Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum).
  • An endophytic Cryptosporiopsis sp. has been isolated from Clidemia hirta.
  • Ditylenchus gallaeformans has been found as a parasite of Clidemia fendleri (a related species).

Traditional Uses

  • Locally known as "senduduk bulu" in Malaysia and has been used traditionally to stop bleeding.

Further Information

  • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
  • Discover Life
  • Wikimedia Commons