Ardisia japonica

Taxobox
name = "Ardisia japonica"


regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Myrsinaceae
genus = "Ardisia"
species = "A. japonica"
binomial = "Ardisia japonica"
binomial_authority = Blume

"Ardisia japonica" is a species of "Ardisia" native to eastern Asia, in eastern China, Japan and Korea.Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200016777 "Ardisia japonica"] ]

It is a low-growing evergreen shrub 20–40 cm tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls, ovate, 4-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm broad, with a sharply serrated margin and an acute apex. The flowers are 4–10 mm diameter, with five (rarely six) white to pale pink petals; they are produced in racemes in late spring. The fruit is a drupe 5-6 mm diameter, red maturing dark purple-black in early winter.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.]

A number of cultivars have been selected for growing as ornamental plants, including 'Hakuokan' and 'Ito Fukurin' with variegated leaves, 'Hinotsukasa', with pale cream-coloured leaves, and 'Matsu Shima' with pink stems and variegated leaves.

It is used as a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called "zǐjīn niú" (紫金牛), and is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs.Plants for a Future: [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ardisia+japonica "Ardisia japonica"] ]

Large doses of the plant as medicine can be toxic to the kidneys. [Alternativehealing.org: [http://alternativehealing.org/ai_di_cha.htm "Ardisia japonica"] ]

ee also

*Chinese herbology

References

External links

* [http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=106 "Ardisia japonica" Chemical Compounds (Dr. Duke's Databases)]