4.
Ardisia japonica
(Thunberg) Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 690. 1826.
Bladhia japonica
Thunberg, Nov. Gen. Pl., 7. 1781
Subshrubs,
stoloniferous, 0.02-0.3(-0.4) m; branchlets minutely rufous-puberulent, glabrescent.
Leaves
pseudoverticillate, at times appearing subopposite; petiole 6-10 mm, minutely puberulent; blade elliptic to obovate or lanceolate, 4-7 × 1.5-4 cm, margins serrulate, flat, apex acute, surfaces minutely rufous-puberulent, glabrescent.
Inflorescences
axillary or subterminal, subumbels, pedunculate, 3-5-flowered; peduncle slender, ca. 5 mm.
Pedicels
usually curved, 0.7-1 cm, puberulent.
Flowers:
sepals 5(-6), ovate, to 1.5 mm, margins entire, (ciliate), apex obtuse or acute to acuminate, sometimes punctate, glabrous; petals 5(-6), pink or white, broadly ovate, 4(-5) mm, margins entire, hyaline, membranous, apex acute, densely punctate; stamens shorter than petals; anthers ovate to narrowly ovate, apex acute, punctate abaxially; ovary glabrous; ovules ca. 15, triseriate.
Drupes
red, becoming blackish, 5-6 mm diam., smooth, ± punctate.
Flowering Apr-Jun; fruiting Nov-Jan. Acidic soil; 0-200 m; introduced; La., Tex.; Asia (China, Japan, Korea).
Ardisia japonica
has naturalized from cultivation; it does not appear to be invasive.
