Phyllanthus niruri L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Equisetopsida > Malpighiales > Phyllanthaceae > Phyllanthus > P. niruri

Description: Herbs, erect, upto 60 cm tall, stem cyllindrical, smooth, glabrous, green; branchlets not angled, cyllindrical, ca. 0.05 cm diameter; stipule present on both base of petiole and petiolule, stipule present on base of petiole is dark brown, needle like, ca. 0.15 cm long, stipule present on base of petiolule is green, apex brown, needle like, ca. 0.1 cm long; leaves compound, leaflets alternate, margin entire, apex acute, base symmetrical, lamina ca. 0.9 x 0.4 cm, glabrous, adaxially green, abaxially glaucous, petiolule ca. 0.05 cm; flowers axillary, solitary; male flowers ca. 0.1 cm diameter, light yellow or whitish; calyx 5, ca. 0.1 cm long; stamens 3, connate, pedicel ca. 0.1 cm long; female flowers ca. 0.1 cm diameter, light yellow; calyx 5, ca. 0.1 cm long, pedicel 0.1 cm long; style 3, bifid; ovary ca. 0.1 cm with pedicel; capsule orbicular, 6 lobed, 0.15 cm diameter, pedicel 0.15 cm long; seeds 6, ca. 0.1 cm, brown, trigonous.

Flowering and Fruiting : July --September

Uses: Phyllanthus niruri L. has traditionally been used in many tropical countries to treat various ailments, such as kidney stones, chronic liver diseases, diabetes and viral infections. The versatile ethnomedicinal usage of the herb is tightly associated with its multiple pharmacological properties such as immunomodulator, anti-viral, antibacterial, diuretic, anti-hyperglycemia and hepatoprotector.

Cultivation: Wild

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org