4. Ardisia Swartz, Prodr. 3, 48. 1788.
Marlberry [Greek ardis, point of arrow or spear, alluding to anthers and/or corolla lobes]
John J. Pipoly III, Jon M. Ricketson
Icacorea Aublet, name rejected
Subshrubs, shrubs, or trees, not succulent, hairy, glabrescent. Leaves persistent, alternate (pseudoverticillate in A. japonica), monomorphic or dimorphic; petiole present [absent]; blade lanceolate, elliptic, or oblanceolate to obovate, base acute to obovate, margins entire, crenate, or undulate, flat, subrevolute, or revolute, apex obtuse or acute to acuminate, surfaces glabrous and/or with lepidote scales, sessile- or stipitate-stellate hairs, or glandular-villous. Inflorescences terminal, subterminal, axillary, or lateral panicles, racemes, cymes, subumbels, or umbels, sessile (pedunculate in A. japonica), longer than petioles. Pedicels present [absent]. Flowers: sepals 4-5(-6), green, calyx lobes oblong-ovate to ovate, ± equaling tube; petals 4-5(-6), corolla white to pink, cupuliform to campanulate, lobes ± equaling tube, apex acute to acuminate; stamens (4-)5(-6); filaments connate basally into inconspicuous tube, free from corolla tube; stigma punctiform. Fruits drupaceous, globose or subglobose (A. elliptica), sometimes longitudinally costate, 4-8 mm, fleshy (endocarp crusty or slightly bony), indehiscent. Seeds 1, white to black, globose, covered by membranous remnants of placenta. x = 6.
Species ca. 400-500 (4 in the flora): introduced; Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Indian Ocean Islands (e, se Madagascar), Pacific Islands, Australia.
SELECTED REFERENCE Ricketson, J. M. and J. J. Pipoly. 2003. Revision of Ardisia subgenus Auriculardisia (Myrsinaceae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 90: 179-317.
