Damnacanthus indicus var. indicus ("Aridoshi")

Japanese name: アリドオシ （蟻通）
Scientific name: Damnacanthus indicus var. indicus

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub 20–60 cm tall, growing in slightly dark forests in warm regions.
The roots do not thicken like strings of beads.
The lateral branches spread sideways, forking in two.
Young branches are densely covered with short, curved bristles, and the hairs remain on branches in their second and third years.
The nodes have sharp thorns 7–20 mm long, extending perpendicular to the leaves.
The leaves are simple and opposite, ovate, 7–20 mm long and 6–12 mm wide, with a sharply pointed, thorn-like tip.
The leaves are leathery with entire margins.
The leaf stalk is about 1 mm long.
The flowers are usually borne two at a time at the branch tips or in the leaf axils.
The flowers are white and funnel-shaped, about 1 cm long, and the corolla tip is 4-lobed.
The tips of the 4 stamens just peep out of the corolla.
Depending on the flower, the style either projects far out of the flower or does not.
The fruit is a spherical berry 4–5 mm across, ripening red, with the pointed calyx lobes remaining at the tip like horns.

[Uses]
Because its leaves stay green in winter and it bears red fruit in winter, it is regarded as an auspicious plant; it is planted together with Senryo and Manryo, punned as "Senryo Manryo Aridoshi", and used for New Year alcove decorations and the like.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers sun to bright shade and fertile, well-drained soil, and a site not exposed to strong wind is suitable.
Protect it from cold wind in winter, and in regions with frost, bring it indoors to a bright window in winter.
Avoid direct sunlight in summer and place it in an airy spot in partial shade.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Excess moisture causes root rot.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary.

[Notes]
The Japanese name is said to mean that the sharp thorns are sharp enough to pierce through an ant.

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