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Ardisia crispa

Common name:		Family:	Myrsinaceae
Author:	(Thunb.)A.DC.	Botanical references:	58, 200, 266
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - S. China, Japan, India.
Habitat:	Woods in low mountains, C. and S. Japan[58]. Mixed or broad-leaved forests, damp places, bamboo woods, hillsides and valleys at elevations of 100 - 2500 metres[266].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	A. crenata[B,E,G,H,HORTIPLEX,P] A. crenulata[G] A. crispa[H] A. crispa [H] Bladhia crispa[G]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Akar Beluloh [E], Ardisia [H], Coralberry [H], Hen's Eyes [P], Hen's-eyes [B], Mata Ayam [E], Mata Kuching [E], Mata Pelendok [E], Sirey Puyoh [E],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	crispa = curly
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Primulales. Myrsine family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China Malaysia Pekan

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 1.2m by 2m . It is hardy to zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from September to December. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Leaves - raw. Used in salads[218].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antidote Diuretic Pectoral.

The root is antidotal and diuretic[218]. An infusion is pectoral[218].
The plant is crushed and applied to scurf, it is also applied to the ears in the treatment of earache[218].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained humus rich soil in partial shade in a position sheltered from cold drying winds[200].
We are not sure if this plant is hardy outdoors in Britain. One report says that it is hardy in zone 7 (tolerating temperatures down to between -10 and -15° c) but then goes on to suggest that it is best grown in pots or tubs outdoors and moved into a cold greenhouse in the winter[200].
There are some named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[200].
The plant has creeping rhizomes[266].
There has been some confusion between this species and A. crenata, the name Ardisia crispa was misapplied by de Candolle to Ardisia crenata[266].

Propagation

Seed - best harvested when it is ripe in the winter and sown immediately in a greenhouse[1]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a shady part of the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, once the plants are 20cm or more tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in summer[200]. Grow on in cool, shaded humid conditions until well rooted[200].

Cultivars

'': There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Ardisia crenata (a possible synonym).

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Myrsinaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[266] Flora of China 1994
On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Ardisia+crispa
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