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The Violet short-stemmed ardisia (Ardisia violacea) belongs to Myrsinaceae (the Myrsine family). It is an evergreen shrub that is a species endemic to Taiwan. It grows in forests at altitudes of 500 to 800 m, and is 10 to 30 cm tall. The stem is reddish, and has long creeping rhizomes. The leaves are oblong to elliptic in shape, with serrated edges. The upper surface of the leaf is a purplish green with gray-green spots, and the veins are purple. It produces a compound umbel in the leaf axils, with several flowers blooming. The fruit is spherical, about 4 mm in diameter, and ripens red. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "裡菫紫金牛".
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