Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 8 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Ardisia virens Kurz

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: niu zi guo

Habit:  shrub/tree

Description:  "Shrubs or small trees, 1-3 m tall. Branchlets subterete, 1-2 mm in diameter, sparsely glandular papillate, early glabrescent. Petiole canaliculate, 1 (-1.5) cm; leaf blade elliptic, lanceolate, or obovate, 9-26 x 2.5-5 (-7) cm, papery, dull, glabrous or sometimes sparsely and minutely glandular papillate abaxially, base cuneate, margin crisped or undulate, with vascularized nodules, densely black punctate, apex acute to subacuminate; lateral veins 15-30 on each side of midrib, marginal vein evident. Inflorescences terminal compound umbels, glabrous, on specialized lateral branches (15-)30-50 cm. Flowers papery, white or pink, 7-8 mm. Pedicel 1.5-3 cm, sparsely glandular papillate in bud, early glabrescent. Sepals ovate to elliptic, subrounded, 2.5-3.5 mm, together with petals densely black punctate, glabrous abaxially, sparsely glandular granulose adaxially at base. Petals nearly free, ovate or broadly ovate, apex acute. Stamens subequalling petals; filaments shorter than anthers; anthers lanceolate or subovate, longitudinally dehiscent, punctate dorsally, apex apiculate. Pistil subequalling petals; ovary punctate, glabrous; ovules ca. 5, multiseriate. Fruit red or blackish red, globose, 7-9 (-10) mm in diameter, densely black punctate"  (Flora of China online).

"Seedlings are easily distinguished from those of Ardisia eliptica by their glaucous leaves and crenate leaf margins"  (Daehler & Baker, 2006; p. 16).

Habitat/ecology:  In its native habitat, "dense evergreen broad-leaved forests, hillsides, dark damp places, valleys, humus-rich soils; 300-2700 m"  (Flora of China online).  In Hawaii, naturalized in the Lyon Arboretum  (Daehler & Baker, 2006; p. 16).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  India, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam  (Flora of China online).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Daehler, Curtis C./Baker, Raymond F. (2006) (p. 16) Vouchers cited: C. Daehler 1205 (BISH), K. Nagata 2199 (HLA)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Ardisia polysticta, please let us know.