Phyllanthus : Identification

Theertha · May 6, 2024, 7:48am

How to identify a plant ?

What are the key features of a Phyllanthus plant ?

Can we try an attempt to collect & identify the Phyllanthus plants ?

Phyllanthus,CUBE Homelab cherukkad,Kozhikode Kerala.

Phyllanthus urinaria.

Photo : @Theertha ,CUBE Homelab ,cherukkad Kozhikode .

IDENTIFICATION

Photo: Theertha

Observations:

Phyllanthus urinaria.
‌Erect annual herb.
Leaves:Simple,Alternate & stipulate(stipule is a out growth borne in the base of petiole)
Leaf base-not equal.
Leaf tip-pointed.
Epidermal hairs are present.
Fruit:Capsule.
surface-Rough(presence of wart like projections).
Number of locules:6
Flower:Axillary
Tepal:6.

Phyllanthus amarus.

Photo: Theertha
Observations:
Phyllanthus amarus.
Leaves:Alternate & stipulate.
Leaf base-equal.
Leaf tip-rounded.
Symmetry-equal symmetry.
Fruit:Capsule.
surface-smooth.
Number of locules:6
Stem: Anatomy.
Circular in shape.
Tepal:5.

Reference for Phyllanthus urinaria and Phyllanthus amarus.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316597830_Identification_of_the_Genus_Phyllanthus_Family_Phyllanthaceae_in_Southern_Nigeria_Using_Comparative_Systematic_Morphological_and_Anatomical_Studies_of_the_Vegetative_Organs

Phyllanthus debilis

Phyllanthus debilis.
‌Leaves:Alternate .
Leaf base-equal.
Leaf tip-pointed.
Symmetry-equal symmetry.
Fruit:Capsule.
surface-smooth.
Stem:Angular in shape.
Flower:
Tepal:6
Place:Cherukkad ,Kozhikode
Date:9/09/2022
Theertha
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285787527_Systematic_studies_in_herbaceous_Phyllanthus_spp_region_Tiruchirappalli_district_in_India_and_a_simple_key_to_authenticate_'Bhumyamalaki’complex_members

Phyllanthus tenellus.

Plant : Phyllanthus tenellus.
Long stalked phyllanthus.
Erect annual herb.
Leaves:
Alternate,leaf hair absent,oblong in shape(subacute -leaf tip,acute to rounded - leaf base)
Fruit :
Capsule:Smooth.
On short stalked .
Flowers with 1.5-5 mm long stalks.
5 sepal.

Date:22/05/2021.
Place: Cherukkad,Kozhikode.
Data collected by: Theertha.

Comparison between Phyllanthus debilis, Phyllanthus urinaria and Phyllanthus amarus.
A)Leaf tip

Photo: Theertha

B)Leaf base.

Photo : Theertha

Comparison between Phyllanthus urinaria and Phyllanthus amarus.

Photo :Lakshmy PJ

A)Leaf based.

Photo : Theertha

B)Leaf Apex

Photo : Theertha

C)stem shape

Photo : Theertha

D) Fruit shape

Photo : @Lakshmy PJ

E)flower

Photo: Lakshmy PJ

Leaf structure: Phyllanthus

Photo : @Shraddha276

Fruit:

Photo @Shraddha276

Phyllanthus urinaria.
Photo:@shraddha

Theertha · May 9, 2024, 4:37pm

Arrangements of flowers in Phyllanthus,
Male flowers towards tip and female flowers towards the bottom part of stem . Observations by @aditya joshi

Theertha · May 9, 2024, 4:39pm

Picture shows the difference between Simple and compound leaf. Photo @Chitralekha

Theertha · April 10, 2025, 2:41pm

Amla male flowers mostly clustered at the base of the branch, both on upper as well as lower sides unlike bhumiamla. 31/03/25, NOIDA
Photo: Chitralekha

Amla male flowers on upper side of branch. 31/03/25, NOIDA
Photo: Chitralekha

From CUBE ,We made an entry for a paper presentation at INTERACT 2025, conducting by SN College Varkala.

Topic: Comparing the circadian rhythm in Phyllanthus and Fruitfly.

Today’s Chatshaala discussions:

How are curry leaves and Phyllanthus different?

What are the similarities and differences between curry leaves, hibiscus leaves, and Phyllanthus leaves?
@⁨Sakshi⁩ @⁨Rechel CUBE⁩ @⁨Sailekshmi CUBE⁩ @⁨Amirtha CUBE⁩ @⁨Lakshmy CUBE⁩ @⁨Aditya Joshi⁩ and others

How to describe this photo?

@⁨Sakshi⁩ @⁨Rechel CUBE⁩ and others

My TINKE moment:

How to differentiate between a simple and compound leaf?

There is an axil between the leaf and the stem (branch), which gives rise to an axillary bud either a flower or a branch. Based on the position of the axillary buds, we can differentiate.

Photo: Axillary bud developed into a flower in Phyllanthus.

Thank you @⁨Chithra Ma’am⁩ @⁨Sakshi⁩ @⁨Rechel CUBE⁩ @⁨Arunan sir ⁩ @⁨Himanshu Joshi⁩ and others

In Photo, arrows are indicating the axillary bud:Curry leaf

Photo: Chitralekha