Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Flowering: April-May. Fruiting: June-August

Flower & fruit : June to July

A small deciduous tree or shrub, reaching 2 to 9 m in height. The leaves are ovate or lanceolate in form, with short petioles and pointed ends about 2 to 7.5 cm long. They are green and smooth on the upper-side and blue-green on the underside. The flowers are small and pinkish and appear in clusters in 5 to 12.5 cm long panicles at leafless parts of the main branches, at the upper part of the tree. The fruits are numerous, oblate, with 6 to 8 ribs, and are densely clustered. They are pale yellow or white, waxy, crisp, juicy and very sour. About 4 to 6 seeds are contained in a stone at the center of each fruit

A small deciduous tree or shrub, glabrous. Leaf compound, leaflets subsessile, obovate, rounded or acute, light green. Flowers in cyathium, axillary, whitish. Fruit drupe, globose with six lobes, light green

Notes: Plains to Low Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Tropical America

Forested areas, open places

It is found in the plains of Brahmaputra valley

The acidic fruits are eaten raw or as pickles

Nutritional Value

Energy 44 kcal; carbohydrate 9.18 gm; protein 0.85gm; total fat 0.48 gm; dietary fibres 4.3 gm; vitamin C 35.6 mg; sodium 1mg; potassium 190mg; calcium 25 mg; magnesium 10 mg; phosphorus 27mg & iron 0.31mg, per100gm

Mature fruits are acidic, eaten fresh or as pickles

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