Potato bush
Phyllanthus reticulatus

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub with many branches. Sometimes it is scrambling or a twiggy tree. It can be 2-8 m high and spread 1.5-3 m wide. The branches hang over. The leaves are oval and 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are arranged to look like a compound leaf. The veins under the leaf are red and net-like. The flowers are very small and in the axils of leaves. They are clustered on short slender branches. Male and female flowers occur together in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit is berry-like and reddish but black when mature. They are 4-6 mm across. The seeds are reddish.

There are about 750 Phyllanthus species. They are mostly in the tropics. Also put in the family Euphorbiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa and Asia. It grows in low altitude forest near rivers. In Nepal it grows up to about 800 m altitude. In tropical Australia it grows from sea level to 950 m altitude. In Pakistan it grows in lowland areas, often near the sea and in areas subject to flooding. In Zimbabwe it grows in hot, dry deciduous woodland between 610-1,370 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. It is claimed the fruit are poisonous.

They are a famine food. The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is occasionally eaten in West Africa.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from cuttings of firm young growth.

Its other names

Local names

Abiranji, Amluki, Anamsule, Buinowla, Chippulinelli, Chongchong belut, Datwan, Echekerana, Huli balli, Jandaki, Kabonan, Kang pla, Karesuli, Karunelli, Karuppupilnji, Kattu-kilanelli, Kattuniruri, Kayu darah belut, Kilanelli, Krishna-kamboji, Leetsane, Loetsane, Makhi, Makki, Mkasiri, Mkwamba, Nalla pullelika, Nallapuli, Nallapurugundu, Nealbari, Nirnelli, Nirppul, Pandibarranlue, Panjuli, Pavana,Pichrundi, Polan, Perdu madu hitam, Poola, Potato-smell, Pula, Pulisar, Sannajogesoppu, Silari, Tampal besi, Trembilu, Wel kayila, Ye-chin-yar

Synonyms

Kirganelia reticulata (Poir.) Baillon; Phyllanthus multiflorus Willd.; and several others