Phyllanthus

"Conami" redirects here. Not to be confused with Konami.
Not to be confused with Philanthus.

Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus mirabilis
Phyllanthus fluitans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Subfamily: Phyllanthoideae
Tribe: Phyllantheae
Genus: Phyllanthus
L.
Diversity
About 800 species
Synonyms[1]
List
  • Anisonema A.Juss.
  • Aporosella Chodat
  • Arachnodes Gagnep.
  • Ardinghalia Comm. ex A.Juss.
  • Asterandra Klotzsch
  • Cathetus Lour.
  • Ceramanthus Hassk.
  • Chlorolepis Nutt.
  • Chorisandra Wight, nom. illeg.
  • Chorizonema Jean F.Brunel
  • Cicca L.
  • Clambus Miers
  • Conami Aubl.
  • Cycca Batsch
  • Dendrophyllanthus S.Moore
  • Dichelactina Hance
  • Dichrophyllum Klotzsch & Garcke
  • Dimorphocladium Britton
  • Emblica Gaertn.
  • Epistylium Sw.
  • Eriococcus Hassk.
  • Flueggeopsis K.Schum.
  • Geminaria Raf.
  • Genesiphyla Raf.
  • Genesiphylla L'Hér.
  • Hemicicca Baill.
  • Hemiglochidion (Müll.Arg.) K.Schum., nom. superfl.
  • Hexadena Raf.
  • Hexaspermum Domin
  • Kirganelia Juss.
  • Leichhardtia F.Muell.
  • Lomanthes Raf.
  • Macraea Wight
  • Maschalanthus Nutt., nom. illeg.
  • Meborea Aubl.
  • Menarda Comm. ex A.Juss.
  • Moeroris Raf.
  • Nellica Raf.
  • Niruri Adans.
  • Niruris Raf.
  • Nymania K.Schum.
  • Nymphanthus Lour.
  • Orbicularia Baill.
  • Oxalistylis Baill.
  • Pseudoglochidion Gamble
  • Ramsdenia Britton
  • Reidia Wight
  • Reverchonia A.Gray
  • Rhopium Schreb.
  • Roigia Britton
  • Scepasma Blume
  • Staurothyrax Griff.
  • Synexemia Raf.
  • Tephranthus Neck., opus utique oppr.
  • Tricarium Lour.
  • Uranthera Pax & K.Hoffm.
  • Urinaria Medik.
  • Williamia Baill.
  • Xylophylla L.
Plagiotropic shoots of Phyllanthus pulcher
Fruit of Phyllanthus acidus
Male and female flowers of Phyllanthus acidus
Flattened stems and flowers of Phyllanthus angustifolius
Leaves of Phyllanthus urinaria

Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number of species in this genus vary widely, from 750[2] to 1200.[3] Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and pachycaulous succulents. Some have flattened leaflike stems called cladodes. It has a wide variety of floral morphologies and chromosome numbers and has one of the widest range of pollen types of any seed plant genus.

Despite their variety, almost all Phyllanthus species express a specific type of growth called "phyllanthoid branching" in which the vertical stems bear deciduous, floriferous (flower-bearing), plagiotropic (horizontal or oblique) stems. The leaves on the main (vertical) axes are reduced to scales called "cataphylls", while leaves on the other axes develop normally.[4] Phyllanthus is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions on Earth.

Phyllanthus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753,[5][6] but the type was not designated.[5]

  1. ^ "Phyllanthus L." Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ David J. Mabberley. 2008. Mabberley's Plant-Book. third edition (2008). Cambridge University Press.[page needed]
  3. ^ Kathriarachchi H, Hoffmann P, Samuel R, Wurdack KJ, Chase MW (July 2005). "Molecular phylogenetics of Phyllanthaceae inferred from five genes (plastid atpB, matK, 3'ndhF, rbcL, and nuclear PHYC)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 36 (1): 112–34. Bibcode:2005MolPE..36..112K. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.12.002. PMID 15904861.
  4. ^ Webster, Grady L. (1994). "Classification of the Euphorbiaceae". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 81 (1): 3–32. doi:10.2307/2399908. JSTOR 2399908.
  5. ^ a b "Phyllanthus". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  6. ^ Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum 2: 981.