Ardisia elliptica

Ardisia elliptica is an evergreen tree, also known as the shoebutton ardisia, duck's eye and coralberry, native to the west coast of India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea. It is a prolific reproducer which has made it a successful invasive species in other locations in the tropics where it has been introduced as a garden ornamental.

Description

A shrub. It grows 5 m tall. The leaves are alternate and leathery. They are narrowly oval. The flower groups are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are light pink. The fruit turn red as they ripen, then deep purple to black. The fruit are 8 mm across. The seeds are round and 5 mm across.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A slightly sour taste with a hint of starch, but otherwise lacking flavour. The fruit is a drupe 6 - 11mm in diameter containing a single seed - it turns from red to a deep purple-black as it matures. The pulp from the fruits will stain fingers a deep purple. Young shoots - raw or cooked. The flowers and fruits are cooked as a flavouring.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sweet and edible. The young shoots are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Antiplatelet and Antibacterial. In Malaysia, a decoction of leaves is said to assuage retrosternal pains, and a paste made from the leaves is used to treat herpes and measles. In Thai traditional medicine, the fruits are used to cure diarrhoea with fever. In Southeast Asia leaves are used to treat scabies, and fruit for intestinal worms.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It often grows on islands along the coast. A bush that grows in tidal swamps. It grows on the edges of mangroves. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Cook Islands, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, North America, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Seed - around 99% of fresh seed is viable. Sown without any pretreatment in a commercial potting mix, 75% of the seed germinated within 42 - 81 days after sowing.

Other Uses

The wood can be used for fuel.

Notes

The leaves and fruit are used in medicine. Also put in the family Myrsinaceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Buah letus, Cham, Chempenai, Kashavaa, Kayu lampilan, Kayu lundu, keravaki, Lempeni kancing sepatu, Limjong, Mata pelanduk, Mempenai, Merjima, Pak cham, Penai, Pis-pis, Rempenai, Sarusup, Semporna, Serusop, Serusup, Surusup, Turang kasah, Tapiok Tursop laut

References (9)

• Ali, R. M., et al, (Eds.), 2010, ASEAN Herbal and Medicinal Plants. Forestry research Institute Malaysia. p 147
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 219, 221 (As Ardisia littoralis)
• INFOODSUpdatedFGU-list.xls
• Kuo, W. H. J., (Ed.) Taiwan's Ethnobotanical Database (1900-2000), http://tk.agron.ntu.edu.tw/ethnobot/DB1.htm
• Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 206 (As Ardisia littoralis)

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