| Etymology | Genus | Flower leaf; as it appears to flower from a leaf like stem |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Bitter to the taste | |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae | |
| Synonyms | - | |
| Common Names | Carry Me Seed | |
| Status | Exotic: Naturalised | |
| Form | Herb | |
| Native Distribution | USA, Mexico, and South America | |
Diagnostics:
Phyllanthus amarus is a very common weed that grows from lawns, cracks from concrete or scrublands. It bears erect alternate and radially arranged compound leaves, and frequently bearing more than 10 pairs of leaflets. Flowers and fruits bear at the underside of the compound leaf, along the midrib.
It is very similar to two other congeners that share the same habitat, Phyllanthus debilis and Phyllanthus urinaria. The distinguishing features of P. amarus between them are the blunt leaflet tips, shorter leaflets in length, and flowers with 5 sepals instead of 6.
Growing out from a carpark.
Blunt and short leaflets.
Fruit capsules and flowers with 5 sepals.
References
-Author: Jake
Posted: 2020-05-30