Coral Ardisia, Deer-eye coralberry
Ardisia crispa

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

An erect shrub. It has leaves arranged in a spiral. It grows 60-150 cm high. It has creeping rhizomes or underground stems. The stems have small hairs. The leaf stalk is 5-8 mm long. The leaves are narrow and slightly toothed. They are 7-25 cm long by 1-5.8 cm wide. There are 8 side veins each side of the midrib. The flowers are pink and waxy. The petals overlap. The flowers occur in drooping heads with the oldest at the outside. These are in the axils of leaves on special curved side branches and near the top of the plant. The fruit are bright red berries. They are 5-6 mm across. They are one seeded.

There are about 250-300 Ardisia species. They are mainly in the tropics. The roots are used in medicine. Also put in the family Myrsinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate and subtropical plant. It needs to be in frost free places. In China it grows in mixed and broad leafed forests and damp places between 100-2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 7-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The bright red berries are eaten. The leaves are eaten in salads.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

A hundred ounces of gold, Bai liang jin, Cham, Chausa, Comnguoi nhan, Jum-kong, Lempeni mata pelanduk, Mata ayam

Synonyms

Bladia crispa Thunb.; Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia E.Walker; Ardisia crispa var. dielsii (H.Leveille)E.Walker; Ardisia dielsii H.Leveille; Ardisia henryi Hemsley; Ardisia henryi var. dielsii (H.Leveille)E.Walker; Ardisia hortorum Maxim. ex Regel; Ardisia hortorum var. brachysepala Handel-Mazzetti; Ardisia multicaulis Z.Y.Shu; Ardisia penduliflora Mez.; Ardisia simplicicaulis Hayata; Bladhia crispa var. dielsii (H.Leveille)Nakai; Tinus crispa (Thunb.)Kuntze; Tinus henryi (Hemsley)Kuntze; Ardisia crenata Roxb.; Ardisia crenulata Lodd.;