Trees & Plants

Coral bush

Ardisia elliptica Thunb.

Currently of rare occurrence in some of the southern islands An ornamental plant and can be grown as a hedge. Fruits are edible. The leaves are traditionally used for alleviating chest pains, fever, diarrhea, inflammation and for parturition complications. Th reat and damage: The

Details

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uses: An ornamental plant and can be grown as a hedge. Fruits are edible. The leaves are traditionally used for alleviating chest pains, fever, diarrhea, inflammation and for parturition complications. Th reat and damage: The plant is considered as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world. Its spread within the Maldivian islands need to be monitored.
family: Myrsinaceae
synonym: Bladhia elliptica (Th unb.) Nakai, Ardisia littoralis Andr.
description: Shrubs to small trees. Leaves simple, alternate, clustered towards the × apex of the branches, 5-11 2.4-5 cm, obovate-oblong or elliptic, base cuneate, apex acute, coriaceous; petiole to 1 cm long. Th as Inflorescence axillary or lateral umbels, rarely lengthened into racemes; peduncle 2-3 cm long. Flowers pink. Calyx 3-5 mm long; lobes elliptic, obtuse, with membranous margins, in fruit enlarged, orbicular, closely pressed to the berry. Corolla-lobes 5-7 mm long, obliquely ovate-acuminate, gland- dotted. Berry 5-7 mm across, apiculate, red turning purplish black.
native range: South and Southeast Asia
distribution: Introduced into Africa, America, the Caribbean Islands and Oceania
english names: Coral bush · Indian coralberry.
flowering fruiting: July- November
occurrence maldives: Currently of rare occurrence in some of the southern islands