Contains 13 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
DNA-based phylogenetic analyses have found genera such as Breynia, Glochidion, and Sauropus to be embedded in the Phyllanthus lineage (Kathriarachchi et al. 2005, 2006). Some prefer to merge these genera into Phyllanthus s.l. (e.g. Ralimanana et al. 2013), while others prefer to retain Breynia and Glochidion and split Phyllanthus up (Pruesapan et al. 2012), which would likely result in 10+ genera being split from the traditional sense of Phyllanthus.
Classification
Citation
PHYLLANTHUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 981. 1753.
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TYPE: Phyllanthus niruri Linnaeus Lectotypified by Small, in Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 2: 453. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllanthus abnormis | DRUMMOND'S LEAFFLOWER | Native | ||
| Phyllanthus acidus | TAHITIAN GOOSEBERRY TREE | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus amarus | GALE-OF-WIND; CARRY-ME-SEED | Not Native FAC (NWPL) | ||
| Phyllanthus angustifolius | FOLIAGE FLOWER; SWORDBUSH | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus caroliniensis subsp. caroliniensis | CAROLINA LEAFFLOWER | Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Phyllanthus caroliniensis subsp. saxicola | ROCK CAROLINA LEAFFLOWER | Native | ||
| Phyllanthus debilis | NIRURI | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus fluitans | RED ROOT FLOATER | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus fraternus | GULF LEAFFLOWER | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus liebmannianus subsp. platylepis | FLORIDA LEAFFLOWER; PINEWOODS DAINTIES | Native Endemic Endangered-State FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | ||
| Phyllanthus pentaphyllus | FIVEPETAL LEAFFLOWER | Native | ||
| Phyllanthus tenellus | MASCARENE ISLAND LEAFFLOWER | Not Native | ||
| Phyllanthus urinaria | CHAMBER BITTER | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) |
[Family identification key]
1. Ultimate branchlet flat and widened into cladodes with multiple parallel veins and numerous nodes towards the apex; leaves scale-like, caducous, and inconspicuous
1. Plant without cladodes; leaves well developed
2
2. Floating aquatic; leaf blades corrugated
2. Terrestrial herb, shrub, or tree; leaf blade flat
3
3. Shrubs; fruit fleshy
3. Herbs; fruit a dry capsule
4
4. Nodes of the main stem bearing well developed leaves, flowers, and fruits, without deciduous lateral branchlets
5
4. Nodes of the main stem bearing scales (rarely well developed leaves) and deciduous lateral branchlets that bear well developed leaves
7
5. Leaves spirally arranged; pedicels 2-8 mm long; staminate sepals 1.2-1.8 mm long; pistillate sepals 2.8-3.5 mm long; seeds 1.7-1.8 mm long
5. Leaves distichous; pedicels 0.5-1.5 mm long; staminate sepals 0.5-0.7 mm long; pistillate sepals 0.6-1.4 mm long; seeds 0.7-1.1 mm long
6
6. Pistillate sepals 0.2–0.3 mm wide; leaf blade vein reticulum clearly visible abaxially; stems glabrous; cymules with 1 staminate and (1–)2–3(–5) pistillate flowers; pistillate nectary cupular, unlobed, enclosing ovary 1/3–1/2 length
6. Pistillate sepals (0.2–)0.3–0.5(–0.7) mm wide; leaf blade vein reticulum obscure or invisible abaxially; stems usually sparsely to densely scabridulous; cymules with 1–2 staminate and 1–2 pistillate flowers; pistillate nectary annular, unlobed or 6-lobed, enclosing ovary basally
7. Leaf blades hispidulous along the margins of the lower surface, with the basal and marginal veins prominent on the lower surface; staminate pedicels 0.1-0.2 mm long; pistillate pedicels 0.3-0.5 mm long; ovary and capsules tuberculate; seeds transversely ribbed
7. Leaf blades glabrous or scabridulous on the lower surface, with the basal and marginal veins obscure or not prominent on the lower surface; staminate pedicels 0.2–1.8 mm, pistillate (1–)1.2–7 mm; capsules smooth; seeds verrucose or longitudinally ribbed
8
8. Leaf blade typically with an acute tip and obovate to broadly elliptic; stamens 5, filaments distinct; pistillate pedicels 2.5-8 mm long, flexuous and pendent in fruit; seeds papillate
8. Leaf blade obtuse to rounded at the tip, if acute at the tip then narrowly elliptic; stamens 2-3, filaments connate; pistillate pedicels 1-3(-3.5) mm long, spreading in fruit
9
9. Plant with long internodes and few lateral branches; leaf blade densely but minutely pubescent; stipules of main stems dark brown, auriculate; capsules 1.7–1.9 mm wide; seeds 0.8–0.9 mm
9. Plant with shorter internodes and several lateral branches; leaf blades glabrous to glabrate; stipules of main stems pale green to pale brown, not auriculate; capsules 1.9–2.7 mm wide; seeds 0.9–1.5 mm
10
10. Distal inflorescences of solitary pistillate flowers
11
10. Distal inflorescences of 1 pistillate flower and 1-3 staminate flowers
12
11. Stems terete or angles obscure; ultimate branchlets scabridulous or not scabridulous; pistillate nectaries subentire; styles mostly appressed
11. Stems usually conspicuously angled; lateral branchlets scabridulous; pistillate nectaries deeply 6-9-lobed; styles ascending to erect
12. Secondary venation obscure on the leaf blade underside; pistillate nectaries of 3 glands; capsules 2.3-2.7 mm long; seeds 1.1-1.5 mm long
12. Secondary venation conspicuous on the leaf blade underside; pistillate nectary annular, 5-7-lobed; capsules 1.9-2.1 mm long; seeds 0.9-1.1 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anisonema | Anisonema Jussieu f., Gen. Euphorb. 19, 107, pl. 4(11). 1824, nom. rej. vs. Anisonema Dujardin 1841. | TYPE: Anisonema reticulatum (Poiret) Jussieu f. (Phyllanthus reticulatus Poiret) | |
| Aporosella | Aporosella Chodat & Hassler, Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 2. 5: 488. 1905. | TYPE: Aporosella hassleriana Chodat | |
| Arachnodes | Arachnodes Gagnepain, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 14: 32. 1950. | TYPE: Arachnodes chevalieri Gagnepain | |
| Asterandra | Asterandra Klotzsch, Arch. Naturgesch. 7(1): 200. 1841. | TYPE: Asterandra cornifolia (Kunth) Klotzsch (Phyllanthus cornifolius Kunth) | |
| Cathetus | Cathetus Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 598, 607. 1790. | TYPE: Cathetus fasciculata Loureiro | |
| Ceramanthus | Ceramanthus Hasskarl, Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. 240. 1844. | TYPE: Ceramanthus gracilis Hasskarl | |
| Chorisandra | Chorisandra Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 6: (13), t. 1994. 1853. | TYPE: Chorisandra pinnata Wight | |
| Cicca | Cicca Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 12. 2: 621. 1767; Mant. Pl. 17, 124. 1767. | TYPE: Cicca disticha Linnaeus | |
| Conami | Conami Aublet, Hist. Pl. Guiane 926, pl. 354. 1775. | TYPE: Conami brasiliensis Aublet | |
| Dendrophyllanthus | Dendrophyllanthus S. Moore, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 45: 395. 1921. | TYPE: Dendrophyllanthus comptonii S. Moore | |
| Dichelactina | Dichelactina Hance ex Walpers, Ann. Bot. Syst. 3: 375. 1853. | TYPE: Dichelactina nodicaulis Hance ex Walpers | |
| Dimorphocladium | Dimorphocladium Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 16: 74. 1920. | TYPE: Dimorphocladium formosum (Urban) Britton 1920. (Phyllanthus formosus Urban 1914.) | |
| Emblica | Emblica Gaertner, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 122, t. 108. 1790. | TYPE: Emblica officinalis Gaertner Lectotypified by Pfeiffer, Nomencl. Bot. 1(2): 1193. 1874. Phyllanthus Linnaeus) | |
| Epistylium | Epistylium Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occid. 2: 1095, t. 22. 1800. | TYPE: Epistylium axillare (Swartz) Swartz (Omphalea axillaris Swartz) Lectotypified by G. L. Webster, J. Arnold Arbor. 39: 153. 1958. | |
| Eriococcus | Eriococcus Hasskarl, Tijdschr. Natuurl. Gesch. Physiol. 10: 143. 1843. | TYPE: Eiorcoccus gracilis Hasskarl 1843. | |
| Flueggeopsis | Flueggeopsis (Mueller Argoviensis) K. Schumann, in K. Schumann & Lauterbach, Fl. Schutzgeb. Suedsee, Nachtr. 289. 1905. | BASIONYM: Phyllanthus L., sect. Flueggeopsis Mueller Argoviensis, Linnaea 32: 2. 1863. | TYPE: Phyllanthus glaucus Mueller Argoviensis |
| Genesiphylla | Genesiphylla L'Heritier de Brutelle, Sert. Angl. 17. 1789 ("1788"). | TYPE: Genesiphylla asplenifolia L'Heritier de Brutelle, nom. illegit. (Xylophylla latifolia Linnaeus, nom. illegit.; Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus Linnaeus) = Xylophylla Linnaeus 1771, by lectotypification. | |
| Hemicicca | Hemicicca Baillon, Etude Euphorb. 645. 1858. | TYPE: Hemicicca japonica Baillon | |
| Hexadena | Hexadena Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 92. 1838. | TYPE: Hexadena angustifolia (Swartz) Rafinesque (Phyllanthus angustifolius Swartz) | |
| Hexaspermum | Hexaspermum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 89: 315. 1927. | TYPE: Hexaspermum paniculatum Domin | |
| Kirganelia | Kirganelia Jussieu, Gen. Pl. 387. 1789. | TYPE: Kirganelia virginea J. F. Gmelin | |
| Lomanthes | Lomanthes Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 92. 1838. | TYPE: Lomanthes latifolia Rafinesque, nom. illegit. (Xylophylla latifolia Linnaeus, nom. illegit.; Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus Linnaeus) = Xylophylla Linnaeus 1771. | |
| Macraea | Macraea Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 27, pl. 1901-1902. 1852, non Lindley 1828, nec Hooker f. 1847. | TYPE: Macraea oblongifolia Wight Lectotypified by G. L. Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 45. 1994. | |
| Menarda | Menarda Commerson ex Jussieu f., Gen. Euphorb. 23, 109, pl. 6(18). 1824. | TYPE: Menarda cryptophila Commerson ex Jussieu f. | |
| Moeroris | Moeroris Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 91. 1838. | TYPE: Moeroris stipulata Rafinesque | |
| Nellica | Nellica Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 92. 1838. | TYPE: Nellica maderaspatana Rafinesque, nom. illegit. (Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linnaeus) | |
| Niruri | Niruri Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 356. 1763. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Niruris | Niruris Rafinesque, Sylva Tellur. 91. 1838. | TYPE: Niruris indica Rafinesque, nom. illegit. (Phyllanthus niruri Linnaeus) = Phyllanthus Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Nymania | Nymania K. Schumann, in K. Schumann & Lauterbach, Fl. Schutzgeb. Suedsee, Nachtr. 291. 1905, non Lindberg 1868. | TYPE: Nymania insignis K. Schumann | |
| Nymphanthus | Nymphanthus Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 537, 543. 1790. | TYPE: = Phyllanthus Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Orbicularia | Orbicularia Baillon, Etude Euphorb. 616. 1858. | TYPE: Orbicularia phyllanthoides Baillon, nom. illegit. (Phyllanthus orbicularis Kunth) | |
| Phyllanthodendron | Phyllanthodendron Hemsley, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 26: t. 2563, 2564. 1898. | TYPE: Phyllanthodendron mirabilis (Mueller Argoviensis) Hemsley (Phyllanthus miriabilis Mueller Argoviensis) | |
| Pseudoglochidion | Pseudoglochidion Gamble, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1925: 329. 1925. | TYPE: Pseudoglochidion anamalayanum Gamble | |
| Ramsdenia | Ramsdenia Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 16: 72. 1920. | TYPE: Ramsdenia exsica (Urban) Britton 1920. (Phyllanthus excisus Urban 1914.) | |
| Reidia | Reidia Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 5(2): 27, pl. 1903-1904. 1852. | TYPE: Reidia floribunda Wight Lectotypified by G. L. Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 45. 1994. | |
| Rhopium | Rhopium Schreber, Gen. Pl. 608. 1791. | TYPE: = Meborea Aublet 1775. | |
| Roigia | Roigia Britton, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 16: 73. 1920. | TYPE: Roigia comosa (Urban) Britton 1920. (Phyllanthus comosus Urban 1914.) | |
| Scepasma | Scepasma Blume, Bijdr. 582. 1826. | TYPE: Scepasma buxifolia Blume | |
| Staurothyrax | Staurothyrax Griffith, Notul. Pl. Asiat. 4: 476. 1854; Icon. Pl. Asiat. 4: X, t. 584. 1854. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Synexemia | Synexemia Rafinesque, Neogenyton 2. 1825. | TYPE: Synexemia caroliniana (Walter) Rafinesque (Phyllanthus carolinianus Walter) Lectotypified by G. L. Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 45. 1994. | |
| Tricarium | Tricarium Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 538, 557. 1790. | TYPE: Tricarium cichinchinense Loureiro | |
| Uranthera | Uranthera Pax & K. Hoffmann, in Engler, Pflanzenr. 4(Heft 47): 95. 1911, non Naudin 1845. | TYPE: Uranthera siamensis Pax & K. Hoffmann | |
| Urinaria | Urinaria Medikus, Malvenfam. 80. 1787. | TYPE: Urinaria erecta Medikus (Phyllanthus urinaria Linnaeus) | |
| Williamia | Williamia Baillon, Etude Euphorb. 559. 1858. | TYPE: Williamia pruinosa Baillon | |
| Xylophylla | Xylophylla Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 147, 221. 1771. | TYPE: Xylophylla latifolia Linnaeus, nom. illegit. (Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus Linnaeus) Lectotypified by G. L. Webster, Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 45. 1994. |