Clidemia hirta (L.) D.Don., Mem. Wern. Soc. 4 (1823)

Synonyms
Clidemia elegans (Aubl.) D. Don
Clidemia hirta var. chrysantha Cogn.
Clidemia hirta var. elegans (Aubl.) Griseb.
Melastoma elegans Aubl.
Melastoma hirtum L.
Staphidium elegans (Aubl.) Naudin

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
Borneo: Bahang, Kunceng batu, Oduk-oduk batu.