Phyllanthus niruri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chanca piedra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Phyllanthus Species: P. niruri
Binomial name
Phyllanthus niruri L.
Synonyms
Phyllanthus amarus

Phyllanthus niruri (Chanca piedra, local names include dukong anak, dukong-dukong anak, amin buah, rami buah, turi hutan and Bhuiaonla) is a widespread tropical plant commonly found in coastal areas. It belongs to the leafflower genus of the spurge family.

Description:

• Annual herb 50-70 cm high. Herbaceous branches, ascending.
• Stem often branched at the base, angular. Bark smooth and light green in colour1.
• Cataphylls subulate, with triangular stipules often turning black2.
• Deciduous branchlets 4-12 cm long 15-30 leaflets.
• Leaf-bearing branchlets slender, spreading.
• Leaflets subssile, elliptic-oblong, 5-11 mm X 3-6 mm, base rounded, apex apiculate, mucronate, entire, glabrous. Stipules ovate-lanceolate3.
• Flower pale green, often flushed with red, very numerous. Male and female flowers in separate axils, male 1-3, female solitary, male at the lower ones, dehiscence of anthers transverse, 5 disk segments, stamen 2-3, filaments connate, anther free, dehiscing obliquely to horizontally4. Female flowers shortly pedicellate, disk deeply 5-lobed5.
• Fruit an oblate capsule, 1.8-2.5 mm in diameter, smooth, globose6.
• Calyx more prominent than those in P. urinaria.
• 2 smooth seeds in each cell, triangular, with longitudinally ribbed on the back.

[edit] External links

• Bhuiaonla (Phyllanthus niruri): A Useful Medicinal Weed