| Binomial |
Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels |
| Family
|
Phyllanthaceae |
| Tamil name |
அரநெல்லி (Aranelli) |
| Habit
|
Small deciduous tree |
| Bark |
Rough, brownish grey with prominent lenticels |
| Flowers
|
Very minute, in short dense clusters arising from the nodules of the branches, reddish colour |
| Fruits |
Small, numerous, densely clustered, globular with 6 to 8 lobes, pale yellow, waxy, crisp, juicy and sour |
| Flowering period |
April to May |
| Pollinators |
Bees |
| Native to Brazil and Columbia |
The fruits are edible either raw or cooked. The mature fruits may be eaten fresh but usually they are sprinkled with salt to neutralise the acidity and are mainly used to make pickles. The fruits are also candied in sugar. They are rich in vitamin C. The fruit is sometimes used as a substitute for tamarind. The fruit is yellow when fully ripe but turns red upon cooking. The peppered leaves are used for rheumatism. In India, the root bark is used for tanning.
|
| Location on campus: |
|
Go Back