Contains 1 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 caroliniensis | Carolina Leaf-flower |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||