Ran across this hiking on the north shore. What is it? I found the leaves really striking.

Maybe Pilea melastomoides, sweet nettle? It is in the Pacific Islands.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

http://hrl-int.co.id/index.php...

http://floranegeriku.blogspot....

I think this is more likely to be a Miconia sp. .... note the extra veins running the length near the leaf margins, these don't appear to be present in Pilea melastomoides.

http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.u...

https://translate.google.co.uk...

A Miconia look-alike, Clidemia hirta .. that could be the one.

http://www.kauaiisc.org/?s=mic...

http://keys.lucidcentral.org/k...

The second link doesn't work, the link on google should. Nope, if you search Clidemia hirta (Koster's Curse) you should get it.

In case you can't get the keys.lucidcentral.org link, I snipped and cropped one of the photos.

From the site ..

Clidemia hirta is quite easily to recognise. Young plants, with their stiff hairs and crinkled leaves, may vaguely resemble a stinging nettle (Urtica spp. and in Kenya this is Urtica massaica Mildbr.), but mature plants can be distinguished by their shrubby habit and white flowers.

C. hirta can be distinguished by the reddish tinge in the young branches which characteristic is not found in U. massaica.

Clidemia hirta is regarded as an environmental weed in many parts of the world. It has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders by the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group and it has been listed as a noxious weed in Queensland and the Northern Territories (Australia) and Hawaii.

In addition to what Janet presents, all Pilea spp. are three veined. Some look as though five, but close inspection will show the "fourth and fith veins" are really the merging of secondary veins near the outer edge of the leaf. And the seed pods shown in your pic are clearly not pilea, and look very much like Clidemia.

Deb? You have a pic of Pilea where your original pic was...Janet and Rick have both suggested a more likely ID. Is that an OOPS?

I haven't had time to really go through all the photos and research, but do plan to clear this up. It's on my list, thanks for the reminder. I added my photo to Pilea early in the discussion, and then it appears that someone also used Dave's 'add a photo to the database option' for my initial posting pic. Sorry for the delay, today is supposed to be stormy and a good day for some computer work.

@Metrosideros Dave may be able to help with an exact ID. Dave lives in Hawaii and is very familiar with many plants that grow on the Hawaiian Islands.

Thanks. Whatever it is was growing wild here and there on hikes and such, which is why I initially titled this either a native or perhaps invasive - from one of our garden visits, it sounds like there are a lot of non-native invasives that have been introduced over the years and have found the climate very pleasing.

JRsbugs said:A Miconia look-alike, Clidemia hirta .. that could be the one.

http://www.kauaiisc.org/?s=mic...

The link I gave earlier is for Kauai plants, scroll down to find Clidemia hirta.

Clidemia also differs by the tiny hairs on the leaves

I can see hairs on the leaves of your plant.

Thanks for all your hard work - are we in agreement that my plant is most likely Clidermia hirta? If so, I will put in a request to move it. Sad to find out such a pretty plant is highly invasive.

All indications are that the plant is "most likely Clidermia hirta". I would call it that, it satisfies identification clues, I can't see it would be anything else, and it's on the island's invasive species website.

Yes, I've just done quite a bit of web research and agree that this should be moved. I'll put in a request, and have also updated what information I can glean re plant data details. I wonder if it would make a good houseplant - I sure found it attractive.

Most certainly Clidemia hirta, Koster's Curse. Highly invasive and spread by birds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Thanks, Dave. I have had my photo moved to the proper spot. We are just back from a brief visit to the north shore of Kauai and I may submit some more plants for ID. If so, I'll call your attention if you don't mind. It was sure beautiful hiking in the rainforest.

E komo mai! You're very welcome!

Did you get pictures at Alakai Swamp? What rainforest were you in?

I'm familiar with most plants in Hawai'i, especially natives. Be glad to check out any photos you can show.

That is one beautiful bloom!!