Phyllanthus Urinaria: Benefits,Uses Plant Care & Tips

Phyllanthus urinaria is a perennial plant that grows in tropical areas and is widely used in traditional medicine. Some studies have shown that the plant has therapeutic benefits and known to have anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and cardioprotective properties. The broad leave plant can make a great addition to your garden. Follow this guide on how to take care of Phyllanthus urinaria at home.

Table of Contents

See also: Argemone Mexicana medicinal uses and plant care tips

Phyllanthus urinaria: Quick facts

Plant name	Phyllanthus urinaria
Common names	Chamber Bitter, Gripeweed, Shatterstone, Stonebreaker, Leafflower
Family	Phyllanthaceae
Found in	United States
Flower colour	Greenish white
Fruit	Small, round, and green-reddish fruits
Benefits	Medicinal properties

see also about: vernonia amygdalina

Phyllanthus urinaria: Plant description

Phyllanthus urinaria grows up to a height of two feet.
It has an alternate arrangement of leaves that are larger around the tip and smaller towards the petiole.
One of the features of the Chamber Bitter plant is that its leaves are closed at night and open during the day.
The plant produces small flowers that grow at the axillae of leaves and seed capsules.
It has an extensive root system with high shade tolerance.

Subspecies

Phyllanthus urinaria has three known subspecies, namely Phyllanthus urinaria urinaria, Phyllanthus urinaria nudicarpus and Phyllanthus urinaria hookeri.

see: All about Perennial Plants

Phyllanthus urinaria: Germination

The process of a plant growing from its seed is called germination. Phyllanthus urinaria is an annual plant. It germinates from early summer to early fall.

Phyllanthus urinaria: Plant care

Soil: Phyllanthus urinaria plant requires well-drained and warm soil for growth. It grows well in fertile, sandy soil.
Sunlight: Keep the plant in an area exposed to full sunlight.
Water: The plant grows in warm and humid conditions. It must be watered regularly.

Phyllanthus urinaria: Uses

There have been several scientific studies that suggest that Phyllanthus urinaria has effective medicinal properties that help in preventing many disorders.

Medicinal herbs such as Phyllanthus urinaria have properties that help in treating different types of cancer.
The use of alternative treatment for treating diabetes mellitus is growing. Some studies show that Phyllanthus urinaria can work as an antidiabetic agent.
In India, Phyllanthus urinaria is known to work as a good diuretic.
The plant is crushed and used as fish poison.
The leaves of Phyllanthus urinaria and black pepper are known to be useful in curing malarial fever.

FAQs

Is Phyllanthus urinaria a weed?

Phyllanthus urinaria plant is a common weed. In some regions, it is regarded as a competitive weed due to its high number of seeds.

Is Phyllanthus urinaria good for health?

Phyllanthus urinaria is a herbal plant, which has been used in folk medicine. The plant, including its roots, leaves, and fruits, has been used to treat various health problems.

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Harini Balasubramanian

Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.