Ardisia elliptica

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Tree . This shade-tolerant, evergreen tree grows rapidly, forming dense monotypic stands that prevent establishment of all other species.

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Click on the language to view common names.

Description

Family Primulaceae

Herbs perennial or annual , rarely suffruticose . Leaves alternate, opposite, or whorled , often all basal, simple , entire to lobed . Flowers solitary or in panicles, racemes , or umbels, usually with bracts, perfect , (4- or) 5(--9) -merous, often heterostylous (Primula) . Calyx persistent . Corolla gamopetalous, actinomorphic , rarely absent (Glaux) . Stamens as many as and opposite corolla lobes , ± epipetalous , occasionally with scalelike staminodes. Filaments free or connate into a tube at base . Ovary superior, rarely semi-inferior (Samolus), unilocular ; placentation free central; style simple; stigma inconspicuous, capitate. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing by valves , rarely circumscissile or indehiscent. Seeds many or few; embryo small, straight, surrounded by endosperm.

The family contains 22 genera and ca. 1000 species, occurring mainly in temperate and mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere. Twelve genera and 517 species are widely distributed throughout China, but are represented mostly in the S and W regions. The centers of diversity for Primula, Androsace, and Omphalogramma are W Sichuan, E Xizang, and NW Yunnan. Lysimachia is also highly developed in provinces S of the Chang Jiang, while Pomatosace is an endemic genus confined to a small area of NW Sichuan and Qinghai.

Many species of Primula and Androsace are cultivated for their attractive flowers as pot plants , in rock gardens, or in garden borders . Some species of Lysimachia are used medicinally. Cyclamen persicum Miller is frequently cultivated as a pot plant.[1]

Genus Ardisia

Trees , shrubs , suffrutescent [or rarely herbs]. Leaves alternate or pseudoverticillate , usually punctate or punctate-lineate. Inflorescences paniculate , cymose , corymbose , or umbellate , rarely racemose. Flowers bisexual , often punctate, 5- or rarely 4-merous. Calyx campanulate or cupular; sepals free or barely united at base , imbricate or quincuncial, usually punctate or punctate-lineate. Corolla campanulate, often punctate; lobes united at base, overlapping to right or very rarely to left, imbricate, or quincuncial, often conical in bud. Stamens attached at base or middle of corolla tube ; filaments very short, broad at base; anthers dehiscing longitudinally or by apical pores . Ovary ovoid or subglobose, as long as or longer than petals; ovules 3 to many. Style base persistent; stigma minute, apiculate . Fruit drupaceous , 1-seeded, punctate, sometimes longitudinally ribbed , with somewhat fleshy exocarp and crusty or slightly bony endocarp. Seeds covered by membranous remnants of placenta.

About 400-500 species: primarily tropical E and SE Asia, Americas, Australia, and Pacific Islands; 65 species in China.[2]

Physical Description

Habitat

Roadsides, scrub , near villages, edges of fields , along coasts. Cultivated and naturalized throughout tropics][3].

A. elliptica readily invades moist disturbed forests , however, it has also been able to invade relatively undisturbed sites. Its fast growth and attractive fruit made it a popular ornamental plant in the past. From private and public gardens it has invaded natural areas. Close resemblance between it and A. escallonioides in Florida led to its introduction to Everglades National Park in 1947. Because its fruit is readily consumed by both avian and mammalian frugivores, rapid spread across a landscape is possible. High seed viability (99%) greatly increases success of rare long-distance dispersal events.

Ecology: This species readily forms dense monotypic stands that exclude native species. Due to high reproductive output and high shade-tolerance, carpets of seedlings (>400 plants per square meter) can form underneath adults under ideal conditions (moist soil and shallow litter ). Seedling carpets and increased shade levels inhibit recruitment by native species.

Biology

Reproduction

Highly autogamous . Given ideal conditions, individuals can reach reproductive maturity in 2-4 years in the field and 1-2 years in a shade house. Large adults in bright forested sites have been measured producing up to 400 fruits. However, adults can also successfully set fruit under shady conditions.

Seeds do not have any long-term dormancy (i.e. , greater than 6 months), however, seedlings and juveniles can survive under very shady conditions for many years. Given enough light, juveniles rapidly develop into reproductive adults. In Florida (USA) habitats , there is very little adult mortality. Fruits are readily eaten by frugivores.

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 6-8' apart.

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.1 • Maximum pH: 7.8

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11. (map)

Taxonomy

Synonyms

Ardisia polycephala auct. non Wallich ex A. Dc. • Bladhia Elliptica

Notes

Publishing author : Bedd. Publication : For. Man. 138

Similar Species

Members of the genus Ardisia

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 19 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

A. crenata (Coral Ardisia) · A. crispa (Ardisia) · A. densilepidotula (Jun-Aug) · A. elliptica (Shoe-Button Ardisia) · A. escallonioides (Marlberry) · A. escallonoides (Island Marlberry) · A. glauciflora (Ausubon) · A. japonica (Japanese Ardisia) · A. japonica 'Chirimen' (Chirimen Marlberry) · A. lateriflora (Quiebrahacha) · A. luquillensis (Mountain Marlberry) · A. obovata (Guadeloupe Marlberry) · A. opaca (Mala Sombra) · A. pulverulenta (Blossomberry Grape) · A. revoluta (Ardisia) · A. solanacea (Jet Berry) · A. standleyana (Frutita De Paloma) · A. subsessilifolia (Hoja Lisa) · A. wallichii (Ardisia)

More Info

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Further Reading

• A hand-book to the flora of Ceylon: containing descriptions of all the species of flowering plants indigenous to the island, and notes on their history, distribution, and uses: with an atlas of plates illustrating some of the more inte by Henry Trimen. London: Dulau, 1893-1931. url p. 73.
• Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). London: The Museum, 1951-1992. url p. 164.
• Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 44 2003 Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- url p. 70, p. 92.
• Marcellia. New York [etc.]Pergamon Press [etc.] url p. 168, p. 169.
• Phytologia. Bronx Park, New York, H.A. Gleason and H.N. Moldenke, url p. 63.
• Chen Feng-hwai, Hu Chi-ming, Fang Yun-yi, Cheng Chao-zong, Yang Yong-chang & Huang Rong-fu In Chen Feng-hwai & Hu Chi-ming, editors. 1990. Primulaceae (1). Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 59(1): 1-217
• Hu Chi-ming In Chen Feng-hwai & Hu Chi-ming, editors. 1990. Primulaceae (2). Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 59(2): 1-321.
• Chen Chieh. 1979. Myrsinaceae. Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 58: 1-147.

Notes

Contributors

• "Ardisia elliptica". in Flora of China Vol. 15 Page 14. Published by Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
• Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed January 19, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• Ruggiero M., Gordon D., Bailly N., Kirk P., Nicolson D. (2011). The Catalogue of Life Taxonomic Classification, Edition 2, Part A. In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D., eds). DVD; Species 2000: Reading, UK.
• The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Dec 27, 2011.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 25, 2008)

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 16, 2007:

• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
• Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Virtual Herbarium Darwin Core format
• Herbarium of the University of Aarhus, The AAU Herbarium Database
• Herbier de la Guyane, Herbier de la Guyane
• Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, NSW herbarium collection
• National Herbarium of New South Wales, Plants of Papua New Guinea
• Taiwan Biodiversity Information Facility, Magnoliophyta
• USDA PLANTS, USDA PLANTS Database

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2663875
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-183615
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13729616
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:586972-1
• GRIN Nomen Number: 403463
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 183615
• International Plant Names Index (IPNI) ID: 586972-1
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PDMRS01320
• U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: ARPO6
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 17537

Footnotes

1. Qiming Hu & Sylvia Kelso "Primulaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 15 Page 39. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
2. "Ardisia". in Flora of China Vol. 15 Page 10. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
3. "Ardisia elliptica". in Flora of China Vol. 15 Page 14. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]

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