2 
here as glands. All were examined under a 
microscope and it was noted that there was 
some variation in shape and colour between 
species, but these characters were constant 
within a species. All observations are based on 
dried material unless otherwise noted. In thick 
leaves it was often hard to discern the small, 
globular, deep red glands, but the presence 
of larger globular and lineate glands were 
easily observed on the surface. When viewed 
with a hand lens or the naked eye they often 
appear as black dots or streaks. Present on all 
leaves were capitate ‘scales’ sunken into the 
surrounding epidermis. These ‘scales’ were 
recorded for Ardisiapachyrrhachis (F.Muell.) 
F.M.Bailey by Bliithen & Reifenrath (2003) 
as extrafloral nectaries. Uniseriate trichomes 
were observed on various organs, but chiefly 
on the corolla tube interspersed with the 
staminal filaments. Glandular papillae may be 
present on various organs as on the pedicels 
of A. bakeri C.T.White. 
Taxonomy of Ardisia 
Ardisia comprises about 250 species as 
circumscribed by Stahl & Anderberg (2004). 
These occur in tropical and subtropical areas, 
particularly in Southeast Asia, and the Pacific 
Islands east to Fiji. Although well developed 
in the Asian region several representatives are 
found in tropical America. Five species are 
endemic to mainland Australia. Two species, 
A. crenata Sims and A. elliptica Thunb., 
which were introduced as garden plants 
are now weeds of environmental concern. 
Another species A. colorata Roxb. occurs on 
Christmas Island as well as in India, southern 
China and areas east to Java. 
Breeding systems: Self-compatibility appears 
to be common in the genus although only about 
seven species have been studied (Bawa 1974; 
Bsmaetal., 1985; Pascarella 1997). In Ardisia 
elliptica Thunb. at least 75% of the seeds 
produced from experiments for autogamy 
were viable and this was higher than in the 
other species tested (Pascarella 1997). He 
also showed that in several species seed set 
was higher when cross-pollination occurred. 
Protogyny, where the stigma extends beyond 
the unopened corolla a day prior to anthesis, 
has been reported for a number of species 
(Tomlinson 1974; Pascarella 1997). Although 
Austrobai/eya 8(1): 1-23(2009) 
no detailed studies have been conducted, the 
stigma of A. brevipedata F.Muell., has been 
observed to extend beyond the corolla prior to 
anthesis (pers. obs ). 
Ardisia Sw., Nov. Gen. Sp. Prodr. 48 (1788), 
nom. cons. Type: Ardisia tinifolia Sw. (nom. 
cons). 
Bladhia Thunb., Nov. Gen. PI. 1: 6 (1781). 
Type: Bladhia japonica Thunb. 
Small trees or shrubs, rarely climbing (non- 
Australian); branchlets usually flattened at 
the point of attachment to the stem. Leaves 
petiolate, simple, alternate, spirally arranged 
or distichous, usually coriaceous, margins 
entire to crenate, sometimes undulate, surface 
glabrous or with peltate glandular scales, 
rarely with hairs (non-Australian); glands 
globose and/or lineate, sometimes obscure. 
Inflorescence a raceme, usually appearing 
umbel liform or paniculate (non-mainland 
Australia), often terminating in short lateral 
branches, in non-Australian species may be 
cymose, appearance often depends on the 
spacing of the pedicels. Flowers bisexual, 5 
(rarely 6)-merous, pedicellate. Calyx free or 
fused at the base, persistent, glands usually 
present. Corolla rotate, campanulate to 
urceolate (non-Australian), white to pink, lobes 
fused at base, imbricate in bud, overlapping 
to the right and often recurved or widely 
spreading after anthesis, glands present. 
Stamens free or adnate to the corolla tube 
near the base; filaments short, rarely absent, 
base usually fused to form a short tube or rim 
fused to the corolla-tube; anthers sagittate, 
introrse, longitudinally dehiscent, rarely 
opening by pores (non-Australian), erect, 
often forming a cone around the style. Ovary 
superior, globose to conical tapering into a 
filiform style which is sometimes exserted 
from the bud; the style is more than twice as 
long as the ovary: stigma punctiform, placenta 
basal; ovules few to numerous embedded in 
the placenta, uniseriate to multiseriate. Fruit a 
drupe, globose to subglobose, with a persistent 
style or scar at the apex, endocarp hard. 
Seed 1, endosperm firm, embryo transverse, 
cylindrical. 
Etymology: from the Greek ardis - sharp or 
a point, referring to the shape of the stamens 
and/or the protruding slender style. 
