Ardisia escallonoides Schiede & Deppe ex Schltdl. & Cham., Island Marlberry
Island Marlberry, Ardisia escallonoides, is
the only member of its' genus native to
North America. It has thick, dark green
leaves, which are lighter on the underside,
and have short reddish leaf stems.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.
The branch and trunk bark of Ardisia
escallonoides light gray-brown, speckled
with darker and lighter spots. It is
typically shrub-like and can have many
small trunks.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.
Glossy and growing in a whorled pattern, the
umbrella like foliage of Island Marlberry is
well suited to the heavy coastal rains of east
central Florida and the tropical climate of the
southern peninsula.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.
Growing here in the understory of a
scrub-oak-pine forest, Island Marlberry
tends to grow where there are openings
in the canopy overhead or along trails.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.
Island Marlberry grows cluster of small
white flowers which are present through
early summer.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.
The small flowers attract bees but are
not very fragrant.
Brevard Co., Florida
©2012 TreesForMe Original Image.