Sea-shore ardisia, Shoe-button ardisia
Ardisia elliptica

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

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.

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

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

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

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

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

Synonyms

Ardisia kotoensis Hayata; Ardisia littoralis Andrews; and others