Chermela
Phyllanthus gomphocarpus

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3 m tall. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 1-6 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The male flowers are small and in a group and the female flowers are large and occur singly. The fruit is a flattened round capsule with 3 lobes. It is 1-2 cm across. It has small seeds.

There are about 750 Phyllanthus species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in hilly areas in shady forests up to 800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The sour fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chermela hutan

Synonyms

Diasperus gomphocarpus (Hook.f.) Kuntze; Phyllanthus accrescens J. J. Smith; Reidia gomphocarpa (Hook.f.) C. E. C. Fisch.;