1142

 Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir

Synonym	:	Phyllanthus scandens Roxb. ex Dillwy
Family	:	EUPHORBIACEAE
Local name	:	Malayalam-  Nirnelli .
Flowering and fruiting period	:	August-Decembe
Distribution	:	Paleotropics
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Stream banks, lake shores  .
Uses	:	Fresh leaf juice is used for muscle spasms. Dried bark is used for dysmenorrhea, diarrhea with anal bleeding.
Key Botanical Characters:  Scandent shrubs; branches pubescent. Leaves simple, alternate, 1.5-2 x 1-1.5 cm, elliptic, apex acute or obtuse, base acute, glabrous; stipules lanceolate, often spinescent; petiole to 2 mm long. Male flowers in axillary fascicles; tepals 5, unequal, obovate, imbricate; stamens 5, outer 2-3 free, inner connate. Female flowers solitary; tepals 5, shortly connate, obovate, valvate, margin scarious; ovary globose, 5-12-locular; styles 3, bifid. Fruits 5-7 mm across, globose, black; seeds 8-10trigonous.