Contains 13 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
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 | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phyllanthus abnormis | DRUMMOND'S LEAFFLOWER | Native | |
| Phyllanthus acidus | TAHITIAN GOOSEBERRY TREE | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus amarus | GALE-OF-WIND; CARRY-ME-SEED | Not Native FAC (NWPL) | |
| Phyllanthus angustifolius | FOLIAGE FLOWER; SWORDBUSH | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus caroliniensis subsp. caroliniensis | CAROLINA LEAFFLOWER | Native FAC (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Phyllanthus caroliniensis subsp. saxicola | ROCK CAROLINA LEAFFLOWER | Native | |
| Phyllanthus debilis | NIRURI | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus fluitans | RED ROOT FLOATER | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus fraternus | GULF LEAFFLOWER | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus liebmannianus subsp. platylepis | FLORIDA LEAFFLOWER; PINEWOODS DAINTIES | Native Endemic Endangered-State FACW (NWPL) FACW (DEP) | |
| Phyllanthus pentaphyllus | FIVEPETAL LEAFFLOWER | Native | |
| Phyllanthus tenellus | MASCARENE ISLAND LEAFFLOWER | Not Native | |
| Phyllanthus urinaria | CHAMBER BITTER | Not Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) |
[Family 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