6283.000 Ardisia Sw.

Trees, shrubs, suffrutescent (or rarely herbs). Leaves alternate or pseudo-verticillate; lamina usually punctate. Inflorescence paniculate, cymose, corymbose, or umbellate. Flowers often punctate; (4)5-merous; calyx campanulate or cupular; sepals free of slightly basally united, usually punctate; corolla punctate, often punctate, lobes basally united, over lapping usually to the right; buds often conical. Fruit drupaceous, 1-seeded, sometimes longitudinally ribbed, with somewhat fleshy endocarp, crusty or slightly bony endocarp. Seeds covered in membranous remnants of placenta.

Worldwide: 400-500 species in tropical East and South East Asia, China, Americas and the Pacific Islands.

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated taxon.