Ardisia paniculata Roxb.

Frost tender, evergreen shrub or small tree with pointed, lance-shaped leaves with parallel veins, and terminal panicles of rosy pink flowers, followed by small red fruit.  It is long-flowering and often carries flowers at the same time as fruit.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1818.  [JD].  ‘Newly introduced from the East Indies, and now in flower at the Comtesse des Vandes’s botanical garden, Bayswater, for the first time in this country.  It requires to be cultivated in the hothouse.’  [BR f.638/1822]. ‘This species of Ardisia is probably the finest of the whole genus, growing into a small tree, with large reflexed foliage, and bearing oval-shaped panicles of rose-coloured flowers at the extremities of the branches.  These remain a long time in bud, and are perhaps handsomer in that state than when the flowers are fully expanded, being of a more intense colour before, than after, expansion.  Like most of the genus, as we are informed by Dr. Roxburgh, it continues covered for a great part of the year with blossom and fruit at the same time.’  [BM t.2364/1822].

History at Camden Park

The only reference is a handwritten note in a copy of the 1850 catalogue in the Mitchell Library collection, inscribed on the front Wm. Macarthur, 23rd. Dec. 1854.  [ML635.9m].  It is almost certain that this plant was in the garden at this time but it was not listed in the 1857 edition of the catalogue and may have been short lived.  A perhaps more likely identification of Macarthur’s Ardisia colorata is Ardisia colorata Roxb. which see.

Notes

Published Feb 25, 2009 - 03:26 PM | Last updated Feb 23, 2010 - 01:16 PM


Shown are the pointed, lance-shaped leaves and a terminal panicle of pink flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.2364, 1822.

Ardisia paniculata Roxb. | BM t.2364/1822 | BHL

More details about Ardisia paniculata Roxb.
Family Myrsinaceae
Category
Region of origin

India

Synonyms
  • Ardisia colorata Link.
Common Name

Marlberry

Name in the Camden Park Record

Ardisia colorata 

Confidence level low