Ardisia solanacea (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Ardisia solanacea Roxb.

Protologue: Fl. ind., ed. 1832, 1: 580 (1832).

Family: Myrsinaceae

Vernacular names

• Malaysia: mata itek
• Vietnam: cơm nguội, cơm nguội cà.

Distribution

Nepal, India, Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, western China and Peninsular Malaysia; cultivated in these areas, and also in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Uses

In India the roots are used against fever, dropsy, diarrhoea and rheumatism, the bark to treat concussion or bruises. The berries contain a pinkish juice, and provide a yellow dye which becomes brown on paper. A. solanacea is also planted as an ornamental.

Observations

• A shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall.
• Leaves oblanceolate to obovate, 10-18 cm √ó 4.5-7.5 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 12-20 pairs.
• Inflorescence corymbose-racemose or umbellate, terminal on axillary branchlets; corolla c. 10 mm long, pink, showy.
• Fruit 7-10 mm in diameter, black when ripe.

The species is found in moist ravines and forests up to 1100 m altitude in India, and in forests in the hills of Peninsular Malaysia, where it is uncommon.

Selected sources

12, 20, 38, 42, 46. dyes

121, 182, 469, 542, 803, 990. medicinals

Main genus page

• Ardisia (PROSEA Medicinal plants)
• Ardisia (PROSEA Timbers)

Authors

• R.H.M.J. Lemmens