Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

ശീമനെല്ലി

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Synonym : Averrhoa acida L.

Common Names : Sheemanelli, Arinelli, Star Gooseberry

Flowering Period : December – August

Distribution : Probably native of Brazil

Habitat : Cultivated

Uses : Fruits edible, Ayurvedic. The root is an active purgative. An infusion of the root is taken to alleviate asthma. An infusion of the leaves is used as a dieting aid. The latex is credited with emetic and purgative activity. A decoction of the bark is used to treat bronchial catarrh. The fruit is used as a laxative. They are also taken as a liver tonic to enrich the blood. The juice of the fruit is instilled in the eyes to treat eye-troubles. The bark is used in India as a tanning agent. An extract from the plant has shown nematicidal activity.

Key Characters :

Small monoecious trees, to 5 m high. Leaves distichous, elliptic to obovate; stipules toothed. Flowers on leafless branchlets. Tepals 4, unequal, 2+2, ovate, 1- nerved, acute. Stamens 4, exserted; filaments recurved; anthers oblong, dehiscence vertical. Disc  glands 4. Female: a few, or solitary. Ovary subglobose, 3(4) - lobed; styles 3 or 4, reflexed, forked into subulate arms. Drupe roughly 6-8-angular, depressed - globose, fleshy; endocarp hard.