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Ardisia crispa

Scientific Name: Ardisia crispa

Family: Myrsinaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Ardisia crispa: An Overview

Ardisia crispa, also known as coralberry or marlberry, is an evergreen shrub with attractive features that make it a popular ornamental plant.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant produces berries.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant produces berries.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Ardisia crispa
  • Common Names: Coralberry, Marlberry, Christmas Berry, Japanese Holly, Australian Holly

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Family: Myrsinaceae (sometimes also listed under Primulaceae)
  • Genus: Ardisia
  • Synonyms:
    • Ardisia crenulata G. Lodd.
    • Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) DC. (misapplied)
    • Bladhia crispa Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 97. 1784
    • Ardisia crispa var. crispa
    • Ardisia crispa f. leucocarpa (Nakai) H. Ohashi.
    • Ardisia crispa var. taquetii H. Lv.
  • EPPO code: ADACR

Distribution and Habitat

  • Ardisia crispa is widely distributed and indigenous throughout Asia.
  • Specific regions include:
    • China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang)
    • Taiwan
    • Japan (Honshu)
    • Malaysia

Ecological Role

  • Ardisia crispa is noted as an escaped plant in some regions, implying that it can spread from cultivated areas into the wild.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Evergreen shrub, growing up to 1.2 meters (approximately 4 feet) in height and 2 meters (approximately 6 feet 7 inches) in spread.
  • Glossy, deep-green leaves with serrated edges.
  • Produces small white flowers.
  • Develops bright scarlet waxy berries in winter, often arranged in tiers.
  • Sparsely branched, with a palm-like appearance when small.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Ardisia crispa has symbiotic relationships with bacteria, which are maintained in leaf nodules.

Traditional and Research Uses

  • Traditionally used against various ailments.
  • Roots have been found to contain Ardisiacrispin A and B, utero-contracting saponins.
  • Roots have demonstrated the ability to inhibit cyclooxygenase and suppress angiogenesis in research.
  • Hexane extract of Ardisia crispa root (ACHE) was used to investigate anti-pyretic properties.
  • Has potential use as a cosmetic ingredient for skin conditioning.

Additional Information

  • Hardy to zone (UK) 7.
  • Flowers from June to July.
  • Leaves are present by January 12th.
  • Can be grown as a bonsai specimen.

Resources

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K) Herbarium Specimens
  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
  • ResearchGate
  • IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
  • Australian Plant Name Index
  • NYBG Virtual Herbarium
  • JSTOR Plant Science