Ardisia crenata Sims

Ardisia crenata is closely related to A. pseudocrispa Pitard (=A. corymbifera Mez. var. tubifera C. Chen), from which it differs in having crenate leaves with a distinct marginal vein. Ardisia pseudocrispa, which occurs in Guangxi and Vietnam, has subentire leaves without a marginal vein.

Shrubs 1-1.5(-3) m tall, without creeping rhizomes, minutely reddish glandular papillate on branchlets, abaxial leaf surface, and inflorescence rachis, early glabrescent. Branchlets terete, 3-4 mm in diam. Petiole narrowly marginate, 6-10 mm, glabrous; leaf blade elliptic, narrowly lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 7-15 × 2-4 cm, leathery or papery, prominently punctate, base cuneate, margin subrevolute, crenate, or undulate, with large vascularized marginal nodules, apex acute or acuminate; lateral veins 12-18 on each side of midrib, marginal vein often hidden by reflexed margin. Inflorescences terminal, umbellate or cymose, on specialized, 2- or 3-leaved lateral branches 4-16(-40) cm. Flowers membranous, white or rarely pinkish, 4-6 mm. Pedicel 7-10 cm. Sepals oblong-ovate, 1-1.5(-2.5) mm, glabrous, punctate, margin entire, apex rounded or obtuse. Petals nearly free, ovate, punctate, glandular papillose adaxially near base, apex acute. Stamens shorter than petals; filaments nearly obsolete; anthers triangular-lanceolate, punctate dorsally, longitudinally dehiscent, acute. Pistil subequalling petals; ovary glabrous, punctate; ovules ca. 5, uniseriate. Fruit red, globose, 6-8 mm in diam., punctate. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Oct-Dec.

Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, SW Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [SW India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam]

Forests, hillsides, valleys, shrubby areas, dark damp places; 100-2400 m.

Ardisia bicolor E. Walker; A. crenata var. bicolor (E. Walker) C. Y. Wu & C. Chen; A. crispa (Thunberg) A. de Candolle var. taquetii H. Léveillé; A. konishii Hayata; A. kusukusensis Hayata; A. labordei H. Léveillé; A. lentiginosa Ker Gawler; A. linangensis C. M. Hu; A. miaoliensis S. Y. Lu; Bladhia crenata (Sims) H. Hara; B. crispa Thunberg var. taquetii (H. Léveillé) Nakai; B. lentiginosa (Ker Gawler) Nakai var. lanceolata Masamune.