わが国の各地をはじめ、台湾や朝鮮半島、中国に分布しています。山地の林内に生え、高さは10〜20センチになります。地下茎を伸ばして広がり、しばしば群生します。葉は長楕円形で、茎の上部に輪生状に互生します。7月から8月ごろ、葉腋から小さな白い花を下向きに咲かせます。果実は球形で、秋には赤く熟します。縁起物としてお正月の寄せ植えなどにも使われ、そのかたちから「じゅうりょう(十両)」とも呼ばれます。台湾華語では「紫金牛」、中国語では「紫金牛(zi jin niu)」と呼ばれます。
ヤブコウジ科ヤブコウジ属の常緑小低木で、学名は Ardisia japonica。英名は Japanese ardisia。
The Japanese ardisia (Ardisia japonica) belongs to Myrsinaceae (the Myrsine family). It is an evergreen shrub that is native throughout Japan, as well as Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and China. This shrub grows in mountain forests and can reach 10-20 cm in height. It spreads by rhizomes and grows often in clumps. The leaves are oblong and arranged in annular alternate at the upper stems. The small white flowers bloom descending in axils from July to August. The fruits are spherical, and ripen red in fall. It is also used as a good-luck plant for New Year's decorations, and is also called "juryo" (meaning "ten ryo" in Japanese) because of its shape. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "紫金牛", and in Chinese "紫金牛" (zi jin niu).