Phyllanthus reticulatus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anisonema jamaicense
• Kirganelia multiflora var. glabra
• Kirganelia reticulata
• Anisonema reticulatum
• Kirganelia intermedia
• Diasperus multiflorus
• Anisonema multiflorum
• Anisonema zollingeri
• Melanthesa oblongifolia
• Diasperus reticulatus
• Kirganelia wightiana
• Cicca reticulata
• Cicca decandra
• Kirganelia multiflora
• Phyllanthus microcarpus var. pallidus
• Anisonema intermedium
• Phyllanthus microcarpus var. dalbergioides
• Kirganelia prieuriana
• Kirganelia prieuriana var. glabra
• Anisonema puberulum
• Kirganelia lineata
• Kirganelia dubia
• Anisonema dubium
• Phyllanthus reticulatus var. glaber
• Phyllanthus puberulus
• Phyllanthus prieurianus
• Phyllanthus prieurianus var. glaber
• Phyllanthus oblongifolius
• Phyllanthus dalbergioides
• Phyllanthus jamaicensis
• Phyllanthus chamissonis
• Phyllanthus alaternoides
• Phyllanthus sinensis
• Phyllanthus takaoensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malpighiales and falls under the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Phyllanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its distribution is quite extensive, spanning the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence is also noted in the Nansei-shoto islands of Eastern Asia. Furthermore, the species can be found growing throughout Taiwan. Together, these locations highlight the specific environmental preferences of the plant across the region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phyllanthus reticulatus is characterized by its preference for specific moisture-rich environments, primarily thriving within riverine bush-, woodland, or forest ecosystems, as well as in Hyphaene bushland or forest habitats situated in close proximity to the sea. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a wide elevational range that begins at sea level (5 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most commonly found at a mean elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to varying topographical gradients within its specialized riparian and coastal woodland niches.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

in riverine bush-, woodland or forest, in Hyphaene bushland or forest close to the sea

Life history

The life history of Phyllanthus reticulatus is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its growth habit and structural development are classified under two distinct life form categories: it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing visible stems above the ground, while also exhibiting characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, indicating a relatively low-growing stature with small, woody stems. In terms of its seasonal foliage patterns, the species is deciduous, shedding its leaves periodically as part of its natural phenological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phyllanthus reticulatus is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant exhibits a significant range in stature, with heights varying from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3.25 m. While it possesses self-supporting capabilities, it also displays liana-like climbing tendencies. The species is classified as a terrestrial organism, functioning as an independent grower rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

3.25 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phyllanthus reticulatus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic relationship with soil nutrients. The plant's leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 3 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.7 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, with a calculated mean width of 1.85 cm. These dimensions reflect the plant's structural adaptation for light interception and gas exchange. In terms of nutrient acquisition and nitrogen cycling, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.85 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phyllanthus reticulatus is characterized by a specific flowering window and specialized fruit development. The plant typically undergoes its flowering period in July, with both the start and end of the flowering season occurring during this month. Following pollination, it produces fruits categorized as berries. These fruits are consistent in size, maintaining a uniform width of approximately 0.6 cm (with minimum, maximum, and mean values all recorded at 0.6 cm). The fruit is indehiscent, meaning it does not naturally split open at maturity to release its contents. Within these fruits, the seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00153 g. The seed mass exhibits slight variation, ranging from a minimum of 0.00116 g to a maximum of 0.0019 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00153 g

Seed mass min:

0.00116 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phyllanthus reticulatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Archives of Razi Institute
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications

Fruit

1. PeerJ

Chemicals

Phyllanthus reticulatus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Flavonoid, Hypophyllanthin, Phyllanthin, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. PeerJ

Hypophyllanthin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Phyllanthin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Phyllanthus reticulatus has 31 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimalarial, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Antioxidant

1. PeerJ
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of Razi Institute

Analgesic

1. Archives of Razi Institute

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Phyllanthus reticulatus has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colon cancer, diarrhea, diuretic, ulcers.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations