Phyllanthus pulcher

Tropical Leaf-flower. A medium size shrub from Thailand with pinnate leaves and small red-and-white flowers. This plant is used as vegetable, and medicinally in Asia. It has many medicinal properties, including antibacterial, fever reducer, pain reliever, blood pressure reducer, and shows good potential in cancer treatment research.

Simple leaf, the shoots bear alternate leaves in flat flat sprays that imitate pinnate leaves. The plant bear flowers and fruits in the axils of the small leaves thereby confirming the small leaves are really leaves, not leaflets.

Plants can produce flowers all year round. Genus Phyllanthus means flowering from edges of leaf-like phyllodes. Species pulcher means beautiful.

Grows best in a sunny position, preferring a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil. The plant occasionally escapes from cultivation and can be found naturalized in old forest clearings, or as a weed in fruit gardens and along rivers.

Similar plants:

• Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry, Emblic Myrobalan, Amla, Amalaki, Amloki)
• Epiphyllum hookeri, Epiphyllum strictum, Epiphyllum stenopetalum, Epiphyllum phyllanthus (Climbing Cactus, Hooker's Orchid Cactus)
• Glochidion macrocarpum, Phyllanthus macrocarpus (Glochidion)
• Phyllanthus acidus, Phyllanthus distichus (Otaheite Gooseberry, Amlak, Grosella, Gooseberry tree)
• Phyllanthus angustifolius (Foliage Flower)
• Phyllanthus arbuscula (Phyllanthus )
• Phyllanthus buxifolius (Phyllanthus)
• Phyllanthus cuscutiflorus (Pink Phyllanthus)
• Phyllanthus latifolius (Phyllanthus)
• Phyllanthus mirabilis, Phyllanthodendron mirabilis (Dragon Wings, Buddhas Prayer, Namaste Plant)