Contains 13 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
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 Rare-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) |
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. |