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Publication #SS AGR 276

 

Identification and Control of Coral Ardisia (Ardisia crenata): A Potentially Poisonous Plant.1

B. A. Sellers, K. A. Langeland, J.A. Ferrell, Michael Meisenberg, and J. Walter.2

Coral ardisia (Figure 1) (also known as coral berry, spice berry, and scratchthroat), was introduced into Florida in the early 1900's for ornamental purposes. It has since escaped cultivation and is found in hardwood hammocks, and other moist woods of natural areas and grazing lands. Documented herbarium specimens have been collected from 19 western and south-central Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2004). It is considered invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council www.fleppc.org and the IFAS Assessment http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment/pdfs/concl_genus_Feb2011.pdf (Fox et al. 2005).

Identification. Coral ardisia is an evergreen sub-shrub reaching heights of 1.5 to 6 feet. It tends to grow in multi-stemmed clumps. Leaves (Figure 2) are alternate, 8 inches long, dark green above, waxy, without hairs, and have scalloped margins and calluses in the margin notches. Flowers (Figure 3) are typically pink to white in stalked axillary clusters, usually drooping below the foliage. The fruit (Figure 4) is a bright red, globose, 1-seeded berry, measuring approximately 0.25 inches in diameter. White-berried populations also exist.

Toxicity. There is no published literature supporting the theory that coral ardisia is toxic. However, there are two cases in Florida where this plant was suspected to be the causal agent for the death of livestock in 2001 and 2007. Berries tend to persist on the plant nearly year-round. It is suspected that the berries and/or foliage are poisonous to livestock, pets, and humans.

Control. Control of coral ardisia can be accomplished by two methods. Low-volume foliar applications of 5% v/v of Garlon 4 or Remedy provides suppression of this plant, but complete foliar coverage is essential. Basal bark applications with an 18% v/v solution of Garlon 4 or Remedy in an oil carrier can also be utilized for suppressing this invasive weed. Do not apply more than 8 quarts of Remedy or Garlon 4 per acre and treat no more than 10% of the total grazed area if applying greater than 2 quarts per acre. Use care when applying high rates of these herbicides when temperatures exceed 90°F as these formulations can volatilize under such conditions. Regardless of application method, retreatment will be necessary for complete control. For more information on basal bark applications, see the EDIS publication entitled Herbicide application techniques for woody plant control http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AG245.

Literature Cited:

Fox, A. M., D. R. Gordon, J. A. Dusky, L. Tyson, and R. K. Stocker. 2005. IFAS Assessment of the Status of Non-native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. (cited June 8, 2007), http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/assessment/ .

Wunderlin, R. P., and B. F. Hansen. 2004. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/. [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), Florida for Community Design and Research.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Figure 1. 

Coral ardisia in a hardwood hammock.


Credit: Photograph by Michael Meisenburg.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 2. 

Coral ardisia leaves are waxy with a bright, shiny appearance. The leaves may contain substances that are toxic to cattle and other livestock.


Credit: Photograph by Brent Sellers.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 3. 

Coral ardisia has pink to white flowers in axillary stalks that tend to hang underneath the foliage.


Credit: Photograph by Michael Meisenburg.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Figure 4. 

Bright red berries of coral ardisia. It is thought that consumption of the berries has resulted in death of livestock in 2001 and 2007 in Florida.


Credit: Photograph by Michael Meisenburg.
[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Footnotes

1.

This document is SS AGR 276, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date September 2007. Reviewed October 2010. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

B.A. Sellers, assistant professor, Range Cattle Research and Educations Center-Ona, FL; K. A. Langeland, professor, Agronomy Department, J. A. Ferrell, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; M. J. Meisenburg, biologist, Agronomy Department, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants; J. Walter, extension agent, Brevard County Extension Office; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. All chemicals should be used in accordance with directions on the manufacturer's label.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.