Phyllanthus muellerianus

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub or woody climber. The stems can be 10 cm across. The spur shoots have sharp spines. The fruit is a small black spine.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows is deciduous and secondary forests in West Africa. In Malawi it grows near rivers and the lake. It grows in the humid zone in West Africa.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, root, stems - juice, bark

How it is grown

In Central African Republic plants have flowered and fruited in January.

Its other names

Local names

Angandoram, Kapele, Larorogo, Mafer, Mamamomoti, Mulembalemba, Mupetwa-lupe, Mupetwalupe, Potopoleboblo

Synonyms

Diasperus muellerianus Kuntze; Phyllanthus floribundus Mull. Arg. non Kunth; Phyllanthus wildemanii null;