Island marlberry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Island marlberry
Scientific classification
Genus:	Ardisia
Species:	escallonioides
Synonyms
Ardisia pickeringia Torr. & A. Gray ex A. DC. Bladhia paniculata (Nutt.) Sudw. ex Sarg. Cyrilla paniculata Nutt. Icacorea paniculata (Nutt.) Sudw. Pickeringia paniculata (Nutt.) Nutt. Tinus escallonioides (Schltdl. & Cham.) Kuntze Tinus pickeringia (Torr. & A. Gray ex A. DC.) Kuntze

The Island marlberry (scientific name: Ardisia escallonioides) is a plant species that grows in warm places. It is found in the West Indies and nearby areas. This plant can be a small bush or even a tall tree.

What the Island Marlberry Looks Like

The Island marlberry has some interesting features:

• Size: This plant can grow quite tall. It can reach up to 15 meters (about 50 feet) in height. That's as tall as a four-story building!
• Leaves: Its leaves are shaped like an oval. They can be up to 17 centimeters (about 7 inches) long.
• Flowers: The plant produces many small flowers. These flowers grow in a cluster called a panicle. Each flower is white or pink and measures about 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) across.
• Fruits: After the flowers bloom, small, round fruits appear. These fruits are called drupes. This means they have a hard pit inside, similar to a cherry or peach. They start out red and then turn black when they are ripe. Each fruit is about 7 millimeters (0.3 inches) wide.

Where the Island Marlberry Grows

You can find the Island marlberry in several warm regions. It grows naturally in:

• Barbados
• Bermuda
• The Dominican Republic
• Cuba
• Mexico
• Belize
• Guatemala
• And the state of Florida in the United States.

Uses of the Island Marlberry

People have reported that the fruits of the Island marlberry can be eaten. However, some people say that the taste is not very pleasant.