Shoebutton ardisia
Ardisia elliptica
family
Myrsinaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Shoebutton ardisia, Ardisia, China shrub, Duck's eye, Jet berry, Shoebutton.
A branched shrub or small tree usually growing up to 4 m tall. Its alternately arranged leaves are reddish in colour when young and have entire margins. Its flowers (6-13 mm across) are borne in clusters in the upper leaf forks (i.e. axils) of the main branches. These flowers have five pinkish petals and their outer surfaces covered in tiny black spots. Its rounded 'berries' (5-9 mm across) turn from green to red when still quite immature, and eventually turn deep purplish or black at maturity.
Impact
Impact
Shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) is regarded as an environmental weed in the Northern Territory and Queensland. This shade-tolerant plant grows rapidly and forms dense monotypic stands that prevent the establishment of all other species. At Nhulunbuy, in the north-eastern parts of the Northern Territory, it has formed dense thickets in monsoon vine forests and melaleuca woodlands which have displaced native groundcover and understorey plants. Naturalised specimens have also been spotted growing in riparian vegetation within areas of dry rainforest. In northern Queensland it is particularly problematic around Cairns, where it is invading natural areas around the city.This species has become naturalised relatively recently and is considered to be in its early stages of spread in Australia. However, it appears well suited to the monsoon zone of northern Australia as well as the tropical and sub-tropical coastal districts of eastern Australia. It already has a foothold in all of these regions, and if it were to reach its potential distribution it would be at the significant expense of indigenous species.Shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) already has a significant reputation as an invasive species in other parts of the world. It is listed in the Global Invasive Species Database, where it is regarded to be among the top 100 of the world' worst invasive alien species. It forms dense single-species stands under trees in wet sites in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that suppress native understorey plants. Due to its high reproductive output and high shade-tolerance, very dense carpets of seedlings can form underneath adults in ideal conditions (i.e. more than 400 plants m2). In Florida it is also abundant in hammocks, old fields, disturbed wetland, marshes, cypress communities and mangrove areas. Its invasiveness has led to it becoming an eradication target by natural resource managers in conservation areas in Florida (e.g. in Miami-Dade and Broward County Parks and in the Everglades National Park).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) is regarded as an environmental weed in the Northern Territory and Queensland. This shade-tolerant plant grows rapidly and forms dense monotypic stands that prevent the establishment of all other species. At Nhulunbuy, in the north-eastern parts of the Northern Territory, it has formed dense thickets in monsoon vine forests and melaleuca woodlands which have displaced native groundcover and understorey plants. Naturalised specimens have also been spotted growing in riparian vegetation within areas of dry rainforest. In northern Queensland it is particularly problematic around Cairns, where it is invading natural areas around the city.This species has become naturalised relatively recently and is considered to be in its early stages of spread in Australia. However, it appears well suited to the monsoon zone of northern Australia as well as the tropical and sub-tropical coastal districts of eastern Australia. It already has a foothold in all of these regions, and if it were to reach its potential distribution it would be at the significant expense of indigenous species.Shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica) already has a significant reputation as an invasive species in other parts of the world. It is listed in the Global Invasive Species Database, where it is regarded to be among the top 100 of the world' worst invasive alien species. It forms dense single-species stands under trees in wet sites in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico that suppress native understorey plants. Due to its high reproductive output and high shade-tolerance, very dense carpets of seedlings can form underneath adults in ideal conditions (i.e. more than 400 plants m2). In Florida it is also abundant in hammocks, old fields, disturbed wetland, marshes, cypress communities and mangrove areas. Its invasiveness has led to it becoming an eradication target by natural resource managers in conservation areas in Florida (e.g. in Miami-Dade and Broward County Parks and in the Everglades National Park).
