Taxon: Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Summary

Genus:

Phyllanthus

Family:

Phyllanthaceae

Subfamily:

Phyllanthoideae

Tribe:

Phyllantheae

Nomen number:

28113

Place of publication:

Bull. Bur. Pl. Industr. U.S.D.A. 148:17. 1909

Verified:

08/25/2005 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

12 (2 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Cicca disticha L.
Cicca nodiflora Lam.
Phyllanthus distichus (L.) Müll. Arg.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Airy Shaw, H. K. 1971. The Euphorbiaceae of Siam. Kew Bull. 26:315.
Airy Shaw, H. K. 1975. The Euphorbiaceae of Borneo. Kew Bull. add. ser., 4:182.
Airy Shaw, H. K. 1981. The Euphorbiaceae of Sumatra. Kew Bull. 36:336.
Airy Shaw, H. K. 1982. The Euphorbiaceae of Central Malesia (Celebes, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda Is.). Kew Bull. 37:31.
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Balakrishnan, N. P. & T. Chakrabarty. 2007. The family Euphorbiaceae in India; a synopsis of its profile, taxonomy and bibliography
Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
Florence, J. 1997-. Flore de la Polynésie française.
Fosberg, F. R. et al. 1979-1982. Geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae/ Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez, eds. 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 75
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Webster, G. L. 1957. A monographic study of the West Indian species of Phyllanthus. J. Arnold Arbor. 38:66.
Webster, G. L. 1970. A revision of Phyllanthus in the continental United States. Brittonia 22:74. Note: mentions
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: mentions

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	gooseberry-tree	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	Indian-gooseberry	1	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
English	Malay-gooseberry	1	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
English	Otaheite-gooseberry	1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	star-gooseberry	1	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
English	Tahitian-gooseberry	1	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
French	cerisier de Tahiti	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	cherimbillier	2	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
French	pomme surelle	2	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
French	surelle	2	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
French	surette	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Stachelbeerbaum	2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
Portuguese	cerejeira-do-Taiti	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	grosellero	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	guinda	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	tahitikrusbär	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Reference
2	Cultivated	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania		Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Uganda		Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana		Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea-Bissau		Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal		Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Madagascar		Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
2	Cultivated	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Mauritius		Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
2	Cultivated	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Reunion		Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Taiwan		Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: mentions
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Bhutan		Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Nepal		Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Myanmar		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Indo-China	Thailand		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Indonesia		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Malaysia		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Asia-Tropical	Malesia	Philippines		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Pacific	Northwestern Pacific	United States	Guam	Fosberg, F. R. et al. 1979-1982. Geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae/ Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae.
2	Cultivated	Pacific	South-Central Pacific	French Polynesia		Florence, J. 1997-. Flore de la Polynésie française.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Guadeloupe		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	Montserrat		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Lucia		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Vincent and Grenadines		Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
2	Cultivated	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
5	Uncertain	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Pará	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae

Cultivated
Africa

EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Tanzania, Uganda
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal
WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion

Asia-Temperate

EASTERN ASIA: Taiwan

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan
INDO-CHINA: Myanmar, Thailand
MALESIA: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

Pacific

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC: United States [Guam]
SOUTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: French Polynesia

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, United States [Puerto Rico], St. Vincent and Grenadines

Uncertain
Southern America

BRAZIL: Brazil [Pará]

Reference(s)

Bosser, J. M. et al., eds. 1976-. Flores des Mascareignes.
Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa.
Florence, J. 1997-. Flore de la Polynésie française.
Fosberg, F. R. et al. 1979-1982. Geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae/ Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
Hara, H. et al. 1978-1982. An enumeration of the flowering plants of Nepal.
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: mentions

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Environmental	ornamental	Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Food additives	flavoring	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Human food	beverage base	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Human food	fruit	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Human food	vegetable	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.
Medicines	folklore	Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):386.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=28113. Accessed 15 April 2026.