Inkberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Inkberry
• shoe-button ardisia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tinus squamulosa
• Bladhia squamulosa
• Climacandra littoralis
• Ardisia kotoensis
• Ardisia littoralis
• Bladhia kotoensis
• Bladhia elliptica
• Icacorea humilis
• Icacorea zeylanica
• Icacorea solanacea
• Ardisia sorsogonensis
• Ardisia squamulosa
• Willughbeia multilocularis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Ericales and the family Primulaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Ardisia, specifically as the species Ardisia elliptica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the globe. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence can be noted in both Mauritius and the Seychelles. Moving toward Eastern Asia, the species is found within the Nansei-shotto islands as well as in Taiwan. Additionally, its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the borders of Bangladesh. Consequently, Ardisia elliptica thrives in diverse tropical environments across these various territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ardisia elliptica is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its habitat. Throughout its existence, it maintains a consistent vegetative state due to its evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and green year-round rather than shedding seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ardisia elliptica is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub or a small tree. It typically reaches a height ranging from a maximum of 3 meters to a mean height of approximately 4.5 meters. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semi-aquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite, and it is categorized as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana, vine, or climbing plant.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

4.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ardisia elliptica is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutritional strategies, which are adapted to its role as an understory woody shrub. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, as indicated by the physiological trait value of "no" for nitrogen fixation capabilities. Instead, it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production. Its photosynthetic physiology involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy, utilizing its elliptical leaves to capture light filtered through the forest canopy. The plant manages water through transpiration and osmotic regulation, maintaining turgor pressure to support its structural integrity and leaf expansion. Chemical processes within the plant also include the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, which are integrated into its physiological defense mechanisms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ardisia elliptica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Journal of separation science
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Fruit

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Ardisia elliptica has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, EMBELIN, Megastigmane, Triterpenes, beta-Amyrin.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

EMBELIN

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Megastigmane

1. RSC advances

Triterpenes

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

beta-Amyrin

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Activities

Ardisia elliptica has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Ardisia elliptica has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, chest pains, inflammation, measles, neuroinflammation.

Fever

1. Indian journal of experimental biology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chest pains

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Inflammation

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Measles

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Neuroinflammation

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Neuroinflammatory disorders

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Platelet aggregation

1. Journal of separation science

Preparations

Ardisia elliptica has 6 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanolic Ardisia elliptica leaf extract, 70% ethanolic extract, Soxhlet extraction, hydroethanolic extracts, liquid-liquid fractionation.

70% ethanolic ardisia elliptica leaf extract

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

70% ethanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Soxhlet extraction

1. Journal of separation science

Hydroethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Liquid-liquid fractionation

1. Journal of separation science

Standardized ae extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology