Latin ardis, a point, referring to the pointed anthers.
Small trees and shrubs, some climbers. Leaves with clear or coloured dots or lines. Flowers in clusters, 5-parted. Stamens free with short filaments. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe.
A. crenata Sims is grown mostly as an indoor pot plant which has hairless young branches and leaves that are wavy and crisped with 12-18 vein pairs [A. crenulata Lodd.]. A. crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. from Indonesia and the Philippines to E Asia and India, has hairy young twigs and leathery leaves with 8 vein pairs and shallowly scalloped margins.
Seed.
Leathery gland-dotted leaves with scalloped edges; red, round fruits.
About 500 species, tropical and warm temperate trees and shrubs (Australia has 6 species).
Source: (1997). Myrsinaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
