Common name: Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. APNI* 
Description: Annual herb to 60 cm high, glabrous. Stipules bristly, c. 2 mm long.
Leaves alternate, distichous, elliptic to oblong or oblanceolate, 4–12 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, margins entire, lower surface paler.
Inflorescences usually with one male and one female flower, pedicels short. Perianth segments elliptic, c. 0.5–1 mm long. Stamens 3, filaments fused into a column. Styles 3, shortly 2-fid.
Capsule 1.5–2 mm diam.; seeds pale brown, c. 1 mm long, with 5–7 concentric ridges on the sides.
Flowering: Flowers most months.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread tropical weed, recorded as naturalized in the Sydney area. Native of the Americas.
NSW subdivisions: *CC
Other Australian states: *Qld *W.A. *N.T.
Text by T. A. James & G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 Suppl. (1999)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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