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Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Synonym	:	Averrhoa acida L.
Family	:	Phyllanthaceae
Local name	:	English - Star Gooseberry, Grosella Malayalam - Arinelli, Nellika-pouli
Flowering and fruiting period	:	December-August
Distribution	:	Probably native of Brazil
Distribution in Kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Uses	:	The acidic fruits are considered to have medicinal properties and are consumed as blood-enhancer for liver. The syrup is also used in the treatment of stomach ailments. The peppered leaves are used to make a poultice for treatment of rheumatism
Key botanical characters:  Small monoecious trees. Leaves distichous, elliptic to obovate, base rounded, apex gradually acute; stipules toothed. Flowers on leafless branchlets; pedicel to 5 mm. male numerous, to 4 mm across. Tepals 4, unequal, 2+2, ovate, 2mm, 1- nerved, acute. Stamens 4, exerted; filaments recurved, 0.6 mm; anthers oblong, 0.5 mm, dehiscence vertical. Disc glands 4. Female: a few, or solitary. Ovary subglobose, 3(4) - lobed; styles 3 or 4, reflexed, forked into subulate arms. Fruit Drupe roughly 6-8-angular, depressed - globose, fleshy, ca. 1.5 cm across; endocarp hard.