Back

Ardisia complanata Wall.

Family Name:	Primulaceae
Synonyms:	Ardisia sanguinolenta Blume, Ardisia paniculata auct. non Roxb. <3>, Ardisia colorata Roxb. var. complanata (Wall.) C.B.Clarke, Ardisia colorata Roxb. var. polyneura (Miq.) C.B.Clarke

Ardisia complanata is a shrub or small tree that can grow to 8 m tall. It has large elongated to lance-shaped leaves that grows to 28 cm in length. The small pale pink flowers of up to 3 mm wide are produced in a pyramidal inflorescence. The fruit is a round drupe that turns deep red or black upon maturity, becomes ribbed when slightly dried.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Ornamental Flowers

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Synonyms
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	8 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Andaman Island, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, Christmas Island, Java, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a shrub or small tree that can grow between 2 - 8 m tall. Young branches may be covered in rusty-brown scales or scurf (lepidote).
Foliage	Leaves are leathery, elongated to lance-shaped or narrowly elliptic, measuring 13 - 28 cm long by 3 - 8 cm wide held on a short stalk 8 - 15 mm long. Veins and midrib are sunken in, prominent below. Glandular dots are found scattered, smooth above, sparsely to minutely covered in rusty-brown scales or scurf.
Flowers	Flowers are produced in an pyramidal inflorescence, up to 16 cm long. Flowers are small, 5-lobed, pink coloured, measuring 2.5 - 3 mm wide. Small black dots can be found on the lobes.

Fruit	The fruit is a deep red to black, round drupe measuring 4 - 5 mm wide. The fruit becomes ribbed when it is slightly dried.
Habitat	Occurs in evergreen, lowland, hill forest, along streams, damp grassy sites. Altitude from 30 - 1050 m. <1&2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The genus, Ardisia is derived from Greek, Ardis in reference to the sharp stamens.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Rough, Smooth

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Acute
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Individual Flower Shape	Tubular
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black, Red
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Smooth, Rough
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

References

References	<1> Larsen, K & Hu, C.M. (1996). Flora of Thailand, vol. 6(2), pp. 101-102. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. <2> Stone, B.C. (1989). Myrisinaceae. In: Ng, F.S.P. & Phil, D. (ed.) Tree Flora of Malaya, Vol. 4, pp. 276. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia. <3> Wong et al. (2013). Checklist of the plant species of Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Singapore : bryophytes to angiosperms. Singapore: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research 27: 417.

References

<1> Larsen, K & Hu, C.M. (1996). Flora of Thailand, vol. 6(2), pp. 101-102. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

<2> Stone, B.C. (1989). Myrisinaceae. In: Ng, F.S.P. & Phil, D. (ed.) Tree Flora of Malaya, Vol. 4, pp. 276. Selangor: Forest Research Institute Malaysia.

<3> Wong et al. (2013). Checklist of the plant species of Nee Soon Swamp Forest, Singapore : bryophytes to angiosperms. Singapore: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research 27: 417.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	29813
Species ID	4122
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.