Taxonomic revision of Australian Myrsinaceae: 
Ardisia Sw. and Tetrardisia Mez 
Betsy R. Jackes 
Summary 
Jackes B.R. (2009). Taxonomic revision of Australian Myrsinaceae: Ardisia Sw. and Tetrardisia Mez. 
Austrobaileya 8(1): 1-23. In this revision of Ardisia Sw., in Australia, eight species are recognized. 
This includes Ardisia sanguinolenta Blume which occurs on Christmas Island and other non- 
Australian areas, and two introduced and naturalised species A. crenata Sims and A. eUiptica Thunb. 
Five species are restricted to Queensland and northern New South Wales. Ardisia brevipedata ?var. 
depauperata Domin is newly recognized as the species Ardisia depauperata (Domin) Jackes. Ardisia 
bifaria is again included in the genus Tetrardisia as T. bifaria (C.T.White & W.D.Francis) C.T.White. 
Descriptions, illustrations and distribution maps of all Australian mainland species are provided, as 
well as a species identification key. 
Key Words: Myrsinaceae, Ardisia , Ardisia depauperata , Tetrardisia , Tetrardisia bifaria , Australian 
flora, taxonomy, nomenclature, identification keys 
B.R. Jackes, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 
4811, Australia 
Introduction 
Ardisia Sw. is a large genus with 250-300 
species in the family Myrsinaceae (Ericales). 
Mez (1902) divided the genus into 14 
subgenera. Hu (1999) in a review of Asiatic 
Ardisia considered that although there 
were exceptions, these divisions worked 
reasonably well. Stahl & Anderberg (2004) 
in a phylogenetic review of the Myrsinaceae 
recognized a number of these subgenera as 
genera, including the previously recognized 
genus Tetrardisia Mez. 
Ardisia and Tetrardisia as circumscribed 
by Stahl & Anderberg (2004) can be 
distinguished from other genera in the family 
by a combination of morphological characters: 
inflorescence a raceme or paniculate (although 
it may be much reduced); corolla lobes fused 
at the base, imbricate and twisted to the right; 
staminal filaments short; style filiform, at least 
twice as long as the ovary. The two genera 
may be distinguished with the following key. 
Key to Ardisia and Tetrardisia in Australia 
Leaves distinctly petiolate; flowers 5-merous 
Leaves sessile or subsessile; flowers 4-merous 
Materials and methods 
This revision was based on an assessment of 
morphological characters from about 350 dried 
herbarium specimens, as well as from fresh 
material and field observations. Herbarium 
specimens were examined from the following 
herbaria BRI, CANB, CNS (formerly QRS), 
K, L, MEL, MO and NSW. Acronyms used 
Accepted for publication 31 July 2009 
.Ardisia 
.Tetrardisia 
here to indicate herbaria holding particular 
specimens are those listed by Holmgren et 
al. (1990). Species in this paper are listed 
alphabetically. All measurements are based 
on dried material unless otherwise stated. 
All measurements of the peduncle refer to the 
peduncle + rhachis. 
Secretory structures of a schizogenous 
origin are present in all organs; however, 
they are uncommon in anthers of all species 
examined. These structures are referred to 
