Kingdom: Plantae
Divisi: Magnoliphyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malphigiales
Family: Euphobiaceae
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels
Local name: Ceremai
A small deciduous tree or shrub, reaching 2 to 9 m in height. The leaves are ovate or lanceolate in form, with short petioles and pointed ends about 2 to 7.5 cm long. They are green and smooth on the upper-side and blue-green on the underside. The flowers are small and pinkish and appear in clusters in 5 to 12.5 cm long panicles at leafless parts of the main branches, at the upper part of the tree. The fruits are numerous, oblate, with 6 to 8 ribs, and are densely clustered. They are pale yellow or white, waxy, crisp, juicy and very sour. About 4 to 6 seeds are contained in a stone at the center of each fruit.
Location: UPI Clinic
Benefit: Edible plant, this plant is also used
medicinally. The peppered leaves are used to make a poultice to
treat sciatica, lumbago and rheumatism (but
have been observed to cause low blood pressure when combined with nitrates), while
the seeds are used as a cathartic and the root, if prepared with care, as a purgative.
Synonyms: Phyllanthus distichus Müll.Arg.
Comments
Post a Comment