4d87d967adb9290dfbbd0d7a24f883c1
Title | Ardisia elliptica Thunb. |
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ |
Rating | 2.5 |
Vetted | Untrusted |
Description | Sungai Pau, Sik, Kedah, Malaysia. Ardisia elliptica Thunb. Primulaceae, also placed in Myrsinaceae. CN: [Malay - Mata pelandok, Lempenai], Sea-shore ardisia, Shoebutton ardisia, Inkberry. Native to the west coast of India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Guinea. Elsewhere naturalized and cultivated pan-tropically. Tropical understory shrub that can reach heights of up 5 meters. Leaves are elliptic to elliptic-obovate, entire, leathery and alternate. Umbellate inflorescences develop in leaf axils of branch leaves. Petals are light pink. Fruits are drupes that first turn red as they mature and then deep purple / black. Pulp staining fingers a deep purple. Its fruit is readily consumed by both avian and mammalian frugivores and the plants now planted in urban parks as bird sanctuaries. 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. Synonym(s): Ardisia kotoensis Hayata Ardisia littoralis Andrews Ardisia sorsogonensis Elmer ex Merr. Ardisia squamulosa C.Presl Synonym Ardisia umbellata Roxb. Synonym Bladhia elliptica (Thunb.) Nakai Bladhia kotoensis (Hayata) Nakai Bladhia squamulosa (C.Presl) Nakai Tinus squamulosa (C. Presl) Kuntze Ref and suggested reading: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?403463 www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2647897 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardisia_elliptica |
Original URL | http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6087/6137085670_d969f410ee_o.jpg |
photographer | Ahmad Fuad Morad |
provider | Flickr: EOL Images |