Characters to distinguish some Phyllanthus spp.
| Habit | Leaves along main axis |
Stem | Flowers on branches |
Female flower pedicel |
Sepals | Disc | Species |
| subwoody erect |
yes | cylindrical green blue |
base 1 ♀ milieu 1 ♀ + 1-2 ♂ apex 1-2 ♂ |
short 1,5-2 mm |
6 | 5 free lobes | P. maderaspatensis |
| herbaceouserect | no | cylindrical dark green |
2 ♀ + 2 ♂ |
long and pendent |
5 | orbicular disc | P. tenellus |
| herbaceous erect |
no | cylindrical green to purpel |
base 2-3 ♂ apex 1 ♀ |
short 1-2 mm |
5 | stellate disc | P. niruroides |
| herbaceous erect |
no | cylindrical light green |
base 1-3 ♂ apex 1 ♂ + 1 ♀ |
short 2 mm |
5 | 5lobed disc | P. amarus |
| herbaceous erect |
no |
cylindrical green |
base 3-7 ♂ apex 1 ♀ |
medium |
5 | pentagonal disc |
P. niruri |
| herbaceous prostrate to erect |
no | tetragonal winged redish | base 1 ♀ apex 2-4 ♂ |
short 0,5-1 mm |
6 | ondulate disc | P. urinaria |
| subwoody erect to prostrate |
no | cylindrical green |
base 2-4 ♂ apex 1 ♀ |
medium 5 mm |
6 | orbicular disc | P. virgatus |
