Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Phyllanthus reticulatus

Syn. Kirganelia reticulata

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Black-Honey Shrub (English)
  • Makkhi (Hindi)
  • Kamboi (Gujarati)

Shrub type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Phyllanthaceae
3m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Phyllanthus reticulatus bark

Bark

Stem and branches with dark grey to brown, relatively smooth bark; older bark may become slightly rough and fissured.

Phyllanthus reticulatus leaves

Leaves

Leaves are ovate-oblong to elliptic, 1–5 cm long, 0.7–3 cm wide, produced on short lateral branchlets, looking like leaflets of a compound leaf.

Phyllanthus reticulatus flower

Flower

Flowers are borne in clusters on short axillary branchlets, small, yellowish, sexes separate on the same plant, flowering before or with the new leaves. The flowering shoots and pedicels are covered in short, velvety hairs.

Phyllanthus reticulatus fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Fruit is berry-like, 4–6 mm across, blackish when ripe.

Phyllanthus reticulatus

Did you know?

Among Aboriginal communities of northern Australia, the hard, durable wood has traditionally been used to make fire-drills and firesticks, helping generate fire through friction.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Tropical & Subtropical Asia to N. Australia.