Clidemia hirta
(L.) D. Don
Koster's curse, Hairy Clidemia
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(c) Nunia Thomas-Moko, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A slightly woody herb or shrub. It grows up to 1 m high. The stem is hairy. The flowers are small. The leaves have pleated surfaces. It can produce 5,000 seeds each year. One fruit can have 100 seeds. The fruit are purple. The fruit are edible.
Edible Uses
The purple fruit are eaten raw, especially by children, and the seeds are also consumed.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw. The seeds are also eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The leaves are astringent and antispasmodic. A decoction of the leafy branches is taken to reduce excessive menstrual flow. An infusion is used to treat stomachache, and is also taken as an enema. A decoction of the leaves is used to cicatrize old wounds. Macerated in cold water, the leaves are used to make a woman's antiseptic genital bath to remedy haemorrhaging.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in the humid lowlands. It can grow in shady places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba*, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica*, Lesser Antilles*, Madagascar, Malaysia, Melanesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, USA, West Indies*,
Cultivation
A plant of the moist tropics, it grows in areas that are usually characterized by very high humidity for most of the year with a dry period of about two to three months. In Hawaii it can be found from sea level to around 900 metres, it has become widespread in areas that receive more than 12,700mm of rain annually, though it can also be found in areas of annual rainfall in excess of 760mm with no dry season. Succeeds in deep shade as well as in open, sunny areas. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil. The plant has often escaped from cultivation and is considered an invasive plant in many areas. It is an aggressive invader which shades out all vegetation below it. The seeds are principally dispersed by alien frugivorous birds, but any organism moving through the thickets will carry seeds away with it. It is probably not resistant to fire, an unlikely event in its habitat, but it rapidly colonizes burned areas. Plants flower and fruit prolifically throughout the year.
Other Uses
The plant is a natural pioneer species within its native range, where it can rapidly invade disturbed areas[305. This can be beneficial within the plant's native range, where it can help to create the conditions necessary for restoring native woodland, but the plant also readily invades areas outside its native range, where it can displace native species.
Production
Fruit occur in both the dry and the rainy season.
Other Information
The fruit are especially eaten by children.
Notes
It can be invasive.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Antumu, Caiuia, Camasey, Camesey peludo, Chinchak, Chinllakim Choroticos, Draunisiga, Folha-do-fogo, Haramunting, Harendong bulu, Karamunting, Kelymazana, Mazambody, Meleca-de-cachorro, Mora, Mucura, Mullaca, Mullaca morada, Nigua, Obogimo, Pixirica, Pixirica-de-cachorro, Senduduk bulu, Senduduk paksa, Sombatra, Vao fulu
References (26)
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