Phyllanthus acidus

Phyllanthus acidus

(Star Gooseberry, Gooseberry Tree, Malay Gooseberry)

FAMILY

Phyllanthaceae / Euphorbiaceae s.l.

Species

Phyllanthus acidus

Common name(s)

Star Gooseberry, Gooseberry Tree, Malay Gooseberry

Flower colour; life form

Red; tree

Campus

Townsville

Description

This tree to 9 m, from south-east Asia is often grown as a street tree. Leaves are lanceolate arranged alternately in one plane along short branches so appearing like compound leaves; flowers small, reddish. Fruit hang in dense clusters off the branches. This drupe is edible, depressed globular, ridged, pale yellow to 2.5 cm across. Seeds 4-5. Fruit popular in preserves.