Volume 8 > Part 2 > Year 2007 > Page 480 > Euphorbiaceae > Phyllanthus

5. Phyllanthus amarus Schumacher & Thonn.wfo-0000270441

in Kongl., Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Skr. 4: 195. 1829; G.L.Webster, J. Amold Arbor. 38: 6. 1956; J. Arnold Arbor. 38: 313. 1957; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 26: 317. 1972; G.L, Webster in Dassan. & Clayton, Revis. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 11: 226. 1997. Fig. 55: B; Fig. 57.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Annual herb, up to 70 cm high, branchlets terete, glabrous. Stipules lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 0.3–1 mm long. Leaves: petiole 0.2–0.8 mm long; blade oblong, elliptic-oblong or obovate, 2.6–11 by 1.3–5 cm, chartaceous or subcoriaceous, finely puberulous on both sides, base slightly unequal, obtuse or rounded, margin entire and finely puberulous, apex obtuse or rounded and apiculate, nerves in 3–4 pairs, reticulation inconspicuous on both sides. Flowers axillary, mostly bisexual fascicles; first 1 or 2 axils with staminate flowers, followed by axils with 1 pistillate flower and 1 staminate flower and the last 1 or 2 most distal axils with 1 pistillate flower. Staminate flowers: pedicel 0.5–1 mm long; sepals (4 or) 5, ovate or elliptic, 0.2–0.7 by 0.1–0.4 mm, light yellowish; disc glands 5, star-shaped or orbicular; stamens 3, staminal column 0.1–0.3 mm long, anthers 0.1–0.3 mm long. Pistillate flowers: pedicel 0.7–1.2 mm long; sepals 5, obovate-oblong or lanceolate, 0.3–0.8 by 0.2–0.5 mm, glabrous, apex acute with a broad whitish scarious margin; disc annular, 5-lobed or laciniate; ovary glabrous; styles 0.1–0.2 mm long; stigmas ca 0.1 mm long. Fruits: pedicel 1.5–2 mm long; fruit capsular, depressed globose, 0.8–2 mm in diam., glabrous, light green or light yellowish-green. Seeds trigonous, 0.5–1.2 by ca 1 mm, with 5 or 6 parallel ribs on the back, often with 1–4 orbicular pits on the sides.

Thailand : Widespread throughout the country.

Distribution : Native to America (Guyana – type), now pantropical.

Ecology : In open spaces, waste grounds, secondary forests, 0–300 m alt.

Vernacular : Ma kham pom din (มะขามป้อมดิน)(Northern); luk tai bai (ลูกใต้ใบ)(Central); ya tai bai khao (หญ้าใต้ใบขาว)(Surat Thani).

Uses: Whole plant applied for diaphoretics.