Phyllanthus leucocalyx Hutch.

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

Monoecious, glabrous, erect annual or short-lived perennial herb, commonly 15–45 cm., but occasionally up to 1 m. tall, woody at the base.

Morphology General Shoots

Orthotropic stems ± terete, greenish brown. Plagiotropic shoots up to 14 cm. long, although not usually exceeding 11 cm., the older ones usually co-axillary with secondary orthotropic shoots.

Morphology Leaves Cataphylls

Cataphylls linear-subulate, 1.5–2 mm. long, yellowish tawny at the base, purplish at the tip. Cataphyllary stipules triangular-lanceolate, 2 mm. long, reddish purple.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves of the plagiotropic shoots distichous; petioles 0.2 mm. long; blades elliptic-ovate, elliptic, elliptic-oblong or oblong, 2–10 mm. long, 1–4 mm. wide, obtuse, mucronulate, subentire to minutely serrulate, rounded, membranaceous to thinly chartaceous, lateral nerves 6–8 pairs, indistinct above, ± distinct beneath, green above, glaucous and reddish tinged beneath.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules linear-setaceous to subulate-filiform, 1.5–2 mm. long, ± entire, cream with a reddish median line.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Male flowers paired in the axils of the lower 1/3–1/2 of the flowering shoots, ♀ pendulous and solitary in those of the upper 1/2– 2/3.

sex Male

Male flowers:pedicels 0.5 mm. long; sepals 5, obovate, 1 mm. long, rounded, creamy white; disc-glands 5, free, stellulate, sparingly tuberculate; stamens 3, filaments connate to form a column 0.5 mm. high, anthers free, transversely ovate, bilobed, horizontally held, 0.2 mm. across, laterally dehiscent, creamy yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers:pedicels 1–1.3 mm. long, thickened apically, not or only slightly elongating in fruit; sepals 5, elliptic-obovate to elliptic-oblong, (1.5–)2(–4) mm. long, rounded or emarginate, greenish cream, occasionally pink tinged; disc annular, flat, thin, indistinctly crenulate; ovary very shortly stipitate, trilobate, 0.75 mm. diameter, minutely tuberculate, yellowish; styles free, 0.5 mm. long, slender, erect, bifid, cream, stigmas somewhat recurved, short, rounded at their apices. Male flowers:pedicels 0.5 mm. long; sepals 5, obovate, 1 mm. long, rounded, creamy white; disc-glands 5, free, stellulate, sparingly tuberculate; stamens 3, filaments connate to form a column 0.5 mm. high, anthers free, transversely ovate, bilobed, horizontally held, 0.2 mm. across, laterally dehiscent, creamy yellow.

sex Female

Female flowers:pedicels 1–1.3 mm. long, thickened apically, not or only slightly elongating in fruit; sepals 5, elliptic-obovate to elliptic-oblong, (1.5–)2(–4) mm. long, rounded or emarginate, greenish cream, occasionally pink tinged; disc annular, flat, thin, indistinctly crenulate; ovary very shortly stipitate, trilobate, 0.75 mm. diameter, minutely tuberculate, yellowish; styles free, 0.5 mm. long, slender, erect, bifid, cream, stigmas somewhat recurved, short, rounded at their apices.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit depressed-trilobate-subglobose, 1–1.2 mm. long, 2–2.3 mm. diameter, tuberculate in the upper half, otherwise ± smooth, pale yellowish green.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds triquetrous, 1 mm. long, with up to ± 20 longitudinal lines on the dorsal facet, and up to ± 12 concentric arcs on each ventral facet, with innumerable transverse striae between the lines and arcs, pale greyish-brown.

Habitat

Open or rocky generally damp places in a variety of associations, disturbed places; 0–1000 m.

Distribution

K4 K7 P T1 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 U3 Z