Fly roost
Phyllanthus amarus

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 10-40 cm high. It almost lies along the ground. It is woody near the base. The leaves are in one plain. The flowers hang from one side of the branch. Flowers are separately male and female. The fruit is round and flattened. It splits into three. The seeds have ribs.

There are about 750 Phyllanthus species. They are mostly in the tropics. It is used as a medicine to stimulate milk production. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in sunny places. In Fiji it grows near sea level and up to 50 m altitude. It grows in flooded rice fields. In southern China it grows between 100-600 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Benin, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Chuuk, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Rotuma, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

Fruit eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

In Central African Republic plants fruit in March.

Its other names

Local names

Alenbeso, Alibiso, Bhui aonla, Bhuiavala, Ehli, Eyseiphsam srach, Foforou, Ji'jimo-awa, Kaalhu lunboa, Kanunung, Lakau o iere, Luktaibai, Mouku laupukupuku, Nerendim-faro, Pitawakka, Senkalen, Te kaimatu

Synonyms

Phyllanthus niruri auct. non L.; Phyllanthus niruri var. genuinus Muell. Arg.;