The genus Afrardisia was published in 1902 by C. Mez (Pflzreich IV, Fam. 236, Heft 9, 183—184). Mez found that the only difference between Afrardisia and Ardisia Sw. was in the placentation. In Ardisia numerous ovules are scattered or arranged in more than one row on the placenta whereas in Afrardisia a single whorl of a small number of ovules occurs. There are some spp. of Ardisia which appear to be pauci-ovulate but then the ovules are irregularly scattered and not uni-seriate. Afrardisia was, according to Mez, confined to tropical West Africa. Actually, the genus is found throughout tropical Africa.