Ardisia (coralberry or marlberry) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. It was in the former Myrsinaceae family now recognised as the myrsine sub-family Myrsinoideae.[1] They are distributed in the Americas, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, mainly in the tropics.[2][3] There are over 700 accepted species.[4] One species, Ardisia japonica is one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.
Ardisia | |
---|---|
Ardisia crenata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Primulaceae |
Subfamily: | Myrsinoideae |
Genus: | Ardisia Sw. |
Type species | |
Ardisia tinifolia | |
Species | |
Over 700, see list of Ardisia species | |
Synonyms | |
|
These are trees, shrubs, and subshrubs. Most have alternately arranged leaves. Flowers are borne in many forms of inflorescence. The flowers have usually 4 or 5 green sepals and a bell-shaped corolla of usually 4 or 5 white or pink petals. The fruit is a somewhat fleshy drupe.[2][3] The defining characteristic of the genus is the small tube formed at the center of the flower by the stamens, which are joined at their bases.[5]
Several Ardisia species are the sources of the chemical compounds known as ardisiaquinones.[6]
Selected species include:[4]