Singapore Haiku - Beard Blueberries

Heritage Pictures, Haiku and Notes by : Gan Yung Chyan
                                                              / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to Everyone

Hairy leaves widen;

The largest offers berries

From the damp forest.

These beard blueberries

Ended silent invasion

Of Koster's curses.

Singa clidemia

Lost power of invasion

In a range.

Do not taste like blueberry

From the heart comes water

Limits

Notes:-

Plant's Scientific Name : Clidemia hirta

American English Name : soapbush

Fijian English Name : Koster's Curse

Singapore vernacular names : Senduduk (in Malay, also refers to Singapore rhododendron, referring to the white flowers),

beard blueberry (in Singapore English, referring to the appearance of the fruits)

Chinese Name : 毛野牡丹 (in Malaysia, not commonly used in Singapore. Local residents in Ang Mo Kio call them affectionately as "蓝莓" or "blueberries" but these are not authentic blueberries.)

Fruit Harvest Season in Singapore : August to October

Use in Singapore : Free. The Singapore variety does not taste like blueberry. It tastes watery. The plants in Singapore are not invasive. No commercial stocks.