Ardisia escallonioides explained

Ardisia escallonioides, the Island marlberry, is a plant species native to the West Indies and neighboring areas. It has been reported from Barbados, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Florida.^{[1] [2]}

Ardisia escallonioides is a shrub or tree up to 15 m (50 feet) tall. It has elliptic leaves up to 17 cm (7 inches) long. Flowers are borne in a panicle of up to 20 flowers. Each flower is white to pink, up to 7 mm (0.3 inches) across. Fruits are fleshy drupes up to 7 mm (0.3 inches) across, red at first then turning black.^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Uses

Fruits of A. escallonioides are reported to be edible, but some consider the taste to be unpleasant.^[8]

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250092262 Flora of North America v 8 p 320.
2. Davidse, G., M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera. 2009. Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): i–xvi, 1–855. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
3. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/97386#page/396/mode/1up Schlechtendal, Diederich Franz Leonhard von, & Chamisso, Ludolf Karl Adelbert von. Plantarum Mexicanarum a Cel Viris Schiede et Deppe Collectarum Recensio Brevis. Linnaea 6(3): 385-430. 1831.
4. Davidse, G., M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera. 2009. Cucurbitaceae a Polemoniaceae. 4(1): i–xvi, 1–855. In G. Davidse, M. Sousa Sánchez, S. Knapp & F. Chiang Cabrera (eds.) Flora Mesoamericana. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México.
5. Long, R. W. & O. K. Lakela. 1971. A Flora of Tropical Florida: A Manual of the Seed Plants and Ferns of Southern Peninsular Florida i–xvii, 1–962. University of Miami Press, Coral Cables.
6. Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida i–x, 1–806. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
7. Eat the
8. http://www.eattheweeds.com/ardisias-berries-on-the-cusp-of-edible-2/ Eat the Weeds and Other Things Too by Green Deane