Phyllanthus acidus L

Description:

Family: PhyllanthaceaeOccurrence and Distribution: It is a native of Madagascar and cultivated in gardens and in villages through out India for fruit.Description: A deciduous tree, 5-8mts high with robust branches and slender leafy branches. Leaves pinnately distichous, 30-50cm, Leaflets 5-8x 2.53.5cm obliquely ovate, acute, alternately arranged on the rachis. pale beneath, stipulate. Flowers, pinkish, minute, densely clustered in axillary slender racemes arising from nodes along the branches. Calyx 4, petals 0, stamens 4 filaments free. Disk of males of large glands, of females annular, crenate. Fruits globose fleshy,1-2cm across, green, 6-8 grooved 1-seeded,highly sour, hanging throughout the season. Vernacular names: Sanskrit: Lavaliphala, Hindi: Harfarauri, Tamil: Aranelli, Telugu: Raacha usiri, Bengali: Hariphal. English:Otaheite gooseberry;