Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet

Ardisia elliptica
Scientific Name
Ardisia elliptica Thunb.

Synonyms
Ardisia humilis Vahl (misapplied) habit in flower (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Ardisia solanacea Roxb. (misapplied)

Family
Myrsinaceae

Common Names
ardisia, China shrub, duck's eye, jet berry, shoebutton, shoe-button ardisia, shoebutton
ardisia

Origin habit in fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

Native to the Indian Sub-continent (i.e. southern India and Sri Lanka) and south-eastern
Asia (i.e. Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea
and the Philippines).

Cultivation
This species has been widely grown as a garden ornamental in the warmer parts of
Australia.

Naturalised Distribution
Naturalised in northern, central and south-eastern Queensland (i.e. recorded from the habit growing in a shady position (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Cook, South Kennedy, Wide Bay and Moreton districts) and in the coastal districts of the
Northern Territory.
Also naturalised overseas in south-eastern USA (i.e. Florida), the Caribbean, the
Mascarene Islands, the Seychelles, and on several Pacific islands (e.g. the Cook Islands,
Western Samoa and Hawaii).

Habitat
Shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) is a weed of tropical and sub-tropical regions and
mainly grows in wet forests (e.g. rainforests), riparian areas and disturbed sites. It is
very shade-tolerant and is commonly found in shaded habitats, but can also grow quite
happily in open areas. leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

Habit
A branched shrub or small tree usually growing 1-4 m tall, but occasionally reaching up
to 6 m in height.

Distinguishing Features
a branched shrub or small tree usually growing up to 4 m tall.

its alternately arranged leaves are reddish in colour when young and have reddish-coloured young leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
entire margins.

its flowers (6-13 mm across) are borne in clusters in the upper leaf forks (i.e.
axils) of the main branches.

these flowers have five pinkish petals and their outer surfaces covered in tiny
black spots.
 flowers and flower buds (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
its rounded 'berries' (5-9 mm across) turn from green to red when still quite
immature, and eventually turn deep purplish or black at maturity.

Stems and Leaves

Undamaged plants in forest habitats are characterized by a single main stem,
producing short, spreading branches. Younger branches (3-7 mm thick) are prominently
angled and hairless (i.e. glabrous).
The simple leaves are alternately arranged along the stems and borne on stalks (i.e.
petioles) 5-20 mm long. These leaf stalks (i.e. petioles) are either green or reddish in
colour. The leaf blades (6-20 cm long and 1.5-7 cm wide) are oval or somewhat close-up of flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
elongated in shape (i.e. elliptic or oblanceolate). They are somewhat leathery in nature,
have entire margins, and have pointed or somewhat rounded tips (i.e. acute or obtuse
apices). The leaves are also hairless (i.e. glabrous) and young foliage is often reddish in
colour.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are borne on small branches (3-8 cm long) emanating from the upper leaf
forks (i.e. axils) of the main branches. The bases of the flower stalks (i.e. pedicels) are
clustered together at or near the same point towards the end of the flowering
branches (i.e. umbellate to racemose axillary inflorescences). These flower stalks (i.e.
pedicels) are 1-2 cm long and are covered in tiny black spots (i.e. they are punctate). young fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
The flowers (6-13 mm across) usually have five small sepals (1-3 mm long) and five
petals, both of which also have their outer surfaces covered in tiny black spots (i.e. they
are black punctate). The petals are pale pink, pale lavender or whitish in colour,
somewhat leathery in nature, and are slightly joined together at their bases. These
petals (up to 9 mm long) are somewhat elongated in shape (i.e. lanceolate) with pointed
tips (i.e. acute or attenuate apices). The flowers also have five yellow stamens that
surround a slightly longer style topped with a tiny pointed stigma.
The fleshy fruit (5-9 mm across) are rounded (i.e. globose or sub-globose) 'berries'
(actually drupes) that quickly turn from green to red when still quite immature. They
eventually turn deep purplish or black in colour at maturity and contain a single round
hard seed (about 5 mm across) surrounded by a whitish coloured pulp.
immature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Reproduction and Dispersal
Shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) reproduces only by seed. Fruit-eating (i.e.
frugivorous) birds and other animals, which are attracted by the numerous bright red to
blackish fruit, are the principal dispersal agents of this species. Its fruit may also be
dispersed in dumped garden waste.

Environmental Impact
Shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) is regarded as an environmental weed in
the Northern Territory and Queensland. This shade-tolerant plant grows rapidly
and forms dense monotypic stands that prevent the establishment of all other
species. At Nhulunbuy, in the north-eastern parts of the Northern Territory, it has mature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
formed dense thickets in monsoon vine forests and melaleuca woodlands which have
displaced native groundcover and understorey plants. Naturalised specimens have also
been spotted growing in riparian vegetation within areas of dry rainforest. In northern
Queensland it is particularly problematic around Cairns, where it is invading natural
areas around the city.
This species has become naturalised relatively recently and is considered to be in
its early stages of spread in Australia. However, it appears well suited to the monsoon
zone of northern Australia as well as the tropical and sub-tropical coastal districts of
eastern Australia. It already has a foothold in all of these regions, and if it were to reach
its potential distribution it would be at the significant expense of indigenous species.
Shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) already has a significant reputation as an invasive close-up of mature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
species in other parts of the world. It is listed in the Global Invasive Species Database,
where it is regarded to be among the top 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species.
It forms dense single-species stands under trees in wet sites in Florida, Hawaii, and
Puerto Rico that suppress native understorey plants. Due to its high reproductive output
and high shade-tolerance, very dense carpets of seedlings can form underneath
adults in ideal conditions (i.e. more than 400 plants m2 ). In Florida it is also abundant in
hammocks, old fields, disturbed wetland, marshes, cypress communities and mangrove
areas. Its invasiveness has led to it becoming an eradication target by natural resource
managers in conservation areas in Florida (e.g. in Miami-Dade and Broward County
Parks and in the Everglades National Park).

Legislation young plant (Photo: Sheldon Navie)

Not declared or considered noxious by any state government authorities.

Similar Species
Shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) is very similar to Ardisia solanacea and Ardisia
humilis, and these three species are considered to be a single variable species by some
botanists (i.e. they are sometimes included within Ardisia elliptica). It is also relatively
similar to coral berry ( Ardisia crenata), and these two species can be distinguished by
the following differences:
shoebutton ardisia ( Ardisia elliptica) has leaves with entire margins. Its
fruit turn black or purplish-black when fully mature. infestation in a rainforest understorey in northern
Queensland (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
coral berry ( Ardisia crenata) has leaves with slightly toothed (i.e. crenulate)
and wavy (i.e. undulate) margins. Its fruit usually turn bright or dark red when
fully mature.

There are also several native ardisia species ( Ardisia spp.) present in the rainforests of
northern Australia.

habit of cultivated plants growing in a sunny position

(Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
(DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13 25 23). Check our website
at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control
methods referred to in this fact sheet should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal
and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method.
These restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on
individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, DEEDI
does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions
based on it.
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Identic Pty Ltd. Special edition of Environmental Weeds of
Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.

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