Ardisia japonica

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Ardisia japonica
Ardisia japonica 01.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Genus: Ardisia
Species:
A. japonica
Binomial name
Ardisia japonica
(Thunb.)Blume

Ardisia japonica, known as marlberry,[1] is a species of Ardisia native to eastern Asia, in eastern China, Japan and Korea.[2]

Growth[]

It is a low-growing, spreading very quickly evergreen shrub 20–40 cm tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls, ovate, 4–7 cm long and 1.5–4 cm broad, with a sharply serrated margin and an acute apex. The flowers are 4–10 mm diameter, with five (rarely six) white to pale pink petals; they are produced in racemes in late spring. The fruit is a drupe 5–6 mm diameter, red maturing dark purple-black in early winter.[2][3]

Uses[]

A number of cultivars have been selected for growing as ornamental plants, including 'Hakuokan' and 'Ito Fukurin' with variegated leaves, 'Hinotsukasa', with pale cream-coloured leaves, and 'Matsu Shima' with pink stems and variegated leaves.[3]

The plant is called Jūryō (十両) in Japanese. Because of the red berries and the word play of its name it is used during Japanese New Year for chabana decoration, normally along winter jasmine.[4][5] Another plant used instead because of its similarity is the coralberry tree and Sarcandra glabra.

Medicinal uses[]

It is used as a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called zǐjīn niú (Chinese: 紫金牛),[2] or aidicha (矮地茶) and is considered one of the 50 Fundamental Herbs.[6]

Large doses of the plant as medicine can be toxic to the kidneys.[7]

Weed problems[]

It has escaped from cultivation and established itself in the wild in the United States, in Gainesville, Florida.[8]

See also[]

  • Chinese herbology
  • Ardisia crenata, (waxy leaves and red berries) also known as coral bush, coralberry tree, or spiceberry.

References[]

  1. ^ English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 358. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017 – via Korea Forest Service.
  2. ^ a b c Flora of China: Ardisia japonica
  3. ^ a b Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  4. ^ https://murasakihanana.link/archives/1936
  5. ^ https://www.543life.com/shun/post20201228.html
  6. ^ Plants for a Future: Ardisia japonica
  7. ^ Alternativehealing.org:Ardisia japonica
  8. ^ 'Wildland Weeds" Summer 2009 p.4 accessed 6 June 2010

External links[]

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