8 
the margin to form a distinct marginal vein; 
glands irregularly globose, reddish-orange, 
visible as bumps on both surfaces when dry. 
Inflorescence terminates a lateral shoot, 
umbelliform to 4 cm long and 10 cm wide, 6- 
14 flowers per umbellate cluster; subtending 
bracts 2-3 mm long, c. 1.5 mm wide at base, 
strongly keeled mid section, glands variable 
dark-coloured. Flowers 5-merous, 6-7 mm 
long; pedicels 6-10 mm, glands both dark 
lineate and globular, chiefly orange-coloured. 
Calyx campanulate, to 2 mm long and 1.5 
mm wide at base, glands globular dark red in 
lower portion, orange towards apex. Corolla 
rotate, white; tube c. 0.2 mm, lobes spreading, 
c. 6 mm long, 4 mm wide at base, glandular 
papillae in lower portion, glands globular 
to shortly lineate, dark red and/or orange- 
coloured. Stamens opposite the petals; base 
of filaments fused to form a rim attached 
to the corolla-tube, free portion of filament 
flattened, c. 1 mm long; anthers to 3 mm long, 
c. 1.5 mm wide towards the base, globular 
dark red glands on abaxial surface, dehiscence 
initially by small apical pores then splitting 
longitudinally. Ovary conical, c. 1 x 1 mm, 
tapering into style, glands orange; style c. 2 
mm long, orange glands present; ovules 3-5 
at base of depressed-globose placenta. Fruit 
globose, 6-8 mm diameter, red, glands dark 
red, scattered. Seed depressed globular, c. 5 
mm long, 5-6 mm diameter, testa light brown. 
coralberry, spiceberry. Fig. 3. 
Selected specimens (fromc. 26 examined): Queensland. 
Cook District: Environmental Park, Kuranda, Nov 
Austrobaileya 8(1): 1-23(2009) 
1992, Swarbrick s.n. (BRI [AQ533671]); 100 Herberton 
Road, Atherton, May 1997, Gray 7172 (CNS); Weinets 
Creek, Babinda, Oct 2000, Forster PIF26375 et al. (A, 
BRI, K, MEL). North Kennedy District: Alcock Forest 
Reserve, rafting access point 9, 5.2 km from Tully River 
camping area, Feb 2002, Ford AF3277 & Holmes (BRI). 
Port Curtis District: Richter’s Road, N of Watalgan, 
Aug 1996, Bean 10515 & Baumgartner (BRI). Wide Bay 
District: Near Lake Cooroibah, Aug 1986, Sandercoe 
C1187 & Milne (BRI). Moreton District: c. 1 km W of 
Beerwah, Caloundra Shire, Jun 2003, Sanders s.n (BRI 
[AQ776446]); Mt Cougal N.P, south west of Currumbin, 
Bean 16671 (BRI). New South Wales. North Coast: 700 
m along the Mullumbimby road from its junction with the 
Pacific Highway, Dec 1994, Parker s.n. (NSW364039). 
Distribution and habitat : A native of the 
Asian region extending from India to Japan 
and into the Malaysian area (Malesian 
subkingdom). This commonly cultivated 
plant has become naturalised, chiefly in urban 
localities as well as along margins of rainforest 
and in wet sclerophyll forest in moist shady 
sites. It is currently found in eastern Australia 
from c. 16°30'S to 29°S (Map 3). Since fruits 
are dispersed by birds, this species has the 
potential to spread into more localities. 
Phenology : Flowering occurs in spring and 
summer. Ripe fruits present from autumn to 
early summer. 
Notes : Ardisia crenata has often been confused 
in the literature with A. crispa (Thunb.) A.DC. 
The source of this confusion is outlined 
by Walker (1939). Based on descriptions 
by Chen & Pipoly (1995) and Yang (1999), 
supplemented by herbarium material these 
two species may be distinguished as follows: 
A. crenata Rhizomes absent; branchlets glabrous; leaf lamina elliptic-lanceolate to 
oblanceolate, rarely ovate; lateral veins 12-18 pairs on either side of the midrib 
uniting to form a distinct marginal vein; marginal glands/nodules prominent in 
the sinuses pale when dry; anthers with reddish glands on the abaxial surface. 
A. crispa Creeping rhizomes present; branchlets pubescent; leaf lamina narrowly 
oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, rarely elliptic-lanceolate; lateral veins c. 
8 pairs on either side of the midrib, marginal veins absent or obscure if present; 
marginal glands/nodules in the sinuses small, when dry almost black; anthers 
lack glands on the abaxial surface. 
All specimens in Australian herbaria with the selection of desirable traits for cultivation 
crenate margins and nodules in the sinuses may have increased the potential invasiveness 
were identified as belonging to Ardisia of this species. 
crenata. Kitajima et al. (2006) suggest that 
