Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Euphorbiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Small tree or shrub to 8 m tall, glabrous; bark grayish, smooth. Leaf blades 4-9 x 2.5-4 cm, alternate, on short lateral deciduous branches, ovate to lanceolate, chartaceous, the apex acute or shortly acuminate, the base rounded to nearly truncate, seldom unequal, the margins entire; petioles 2.5-5 mm long; stipules minute, triangular. Inflorescence cauliflorous, racemes with lateral bisexual cymules; calyx reddish, of 5 sepals. Staminate flowers numerous; stamens 5, the filament free and very short. Pistillate flowers 1 per cymule; ovary of 3 or 4 carpels, styles connate at base, bifid. Drupe oblate, 6-8-lobed, yellow, with crisp acid mesocarp, 1.5-2 cm diam.
Distribution and Ecology - Persistent after cultivation but apparently not spreading. Emmaus (A2010). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Tortola; native to South America but cultivated throughout the tropics.
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Discussion
Common name: gooseberry.