SPURGE FAMILY (EUPHORBIACEAE) 

 127. Grosella, Otaheite gooseberry-tree Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels* 



A small tree cultivated for its edible sour fruits. 

 It is distinguished by: (1) the light yellow juicy 

 berries %-% incli in diameter, somewhat rounded 

 but broader than long and slightly 8- or 6-angled, 

 suggesting a diminutive squash, hanging down in 

 clusters from tlie branches; (2) the sim])le leaves 

 alternate in 2 rows along slender deciduous twigs 

 and appearing to be pinnate, ovate, 1-3 inches long 

 and %-li/4 inches broad, short-pointed at apex 

 and rounded at base, on short petioles Vs inch long; 

 (3) stout twigs rougli from rounded raised twig 

 scars; and (-1) flowers minute and reddish or pink, 

 4-parted and Vs-^e i"ch across, usually clustered 

 along slender axes back of leaves. 



A spreading deciduous tree attaining 20-30 feet 

 in height and 6 inches in trunk diameter. The 

 greenish-gray bark is fissured and slightly scaly. 

 Inner bark is pink and almost tasteless. The con- 

 spicuous persistent twigs are 1/2 ir^ch or more in 

 diameter, brownisli gray, green and slender at 

 apex. 



The leaves hang down from green or pinkish- 

 tinged twigs 6-12 inche-s long which appear to be 

 axes of pinnate leaves and which shed from the 

 stout twigs like leaves. Blades are thin, green and 

 slightly sliiny above, and beneath pale blue green 

 with a bloom. At base of each leaf are 2 minute 

 pointed scales (stipules). 



Flowers are bonie mostly on slender leafless axes 

 (panicles) 2-5 inches long, several clustered to- 

 gether on short stalks. Male and female flowers 

 are mixed in the same clusters (monoecious) and 

 have 4 spreading calyx lobes about 14 e ii^cli long 

 but lack petals. There are 4 stamens also in male 

 flowers, and in female flowers a pistil with 4- or 

 3-celled ovary and 4 or 3 styles. 



Fruits hang down in clusters, several along a 

 slender drooping axis. The fruit contains a 

 brownish stone with few seeds. Flowering and 

 fruiting nearly through the year, fruiting chiefly 

 in April and August. 



The heartwood is reddish brown, moderately 

 hard, fine-grained, of medium weight (specific 

 gravity 0.6) , strong, tough, and fibrous. It is said 

 to be durable and to take a good polish but, seldom 

 being available, is little used. 



Widely planted in tropical regions for the juicy 

 sour fruits, which can be eaten raw but usually 

 are made into jelly, preserves, candy, and pickles. 

 The root and seed have been used in medicines. 

 Introduced into the West Indies in 1793. 



Cultivated and also spreading along i-oadsides 

 and waste places, chiefly in the coastal regions of 

 Puerto Eico. Also in St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. 

 John, and Tortola. 



Range. — Native of tropical Asia and perhaps 

 also East Indies but extensively introduced and 

 spontaneous and sometimes naturalized in tropical 

 regions. Southern Florida, through West Indies 

 from Bahamas and Cuba to Trinidad, Mexico, 

 Central America, and South America. 



Other commox names. — cereza amarilla, cerezo 

 agrio, grosella blanca (Puerto Rico) ; grosella 

 (Spanish) ; guinda, piniienta (El Salvador) ; gro- 

 sella de Nicaragua (Nicaragua); cerezo agrio, 

 cereza (Venezuela); Otaheite gooseberry -tree, 

 Otaheite-gooseberry, star-gooseberiy , West-Indi- 

 an-gooseberrj', gooseberry -tree, jimbling (United 

 States, English) ; wild-plum (British Honduras) ; 

 wild gooseberry (Briti.sh Guiana) ; sybilline 

 (Haiti) ; surelle (St. Bartheleniy) ; ponime surelle 

 (Guadeloupe) ; gooseberry (Dutch West Indies) ; 

 goesberie (Surinam) ; roselle (Brazil). 



Botanical synonyms. — Phyllantlni.'i distichus 

 (L.) Muell.-Arg., Cicca disticha L., C. acida (L.) 

 Merr. 



This species is botanically uni-elated to the true 

 gooseberry, which is a prickly bush {Rihes grossu- 

 Itiria L., family Saxifragaceae) grown in tem- 

 perate regions and having fruits with similar 

 flavor. 



The genus sometimes divided into several, is 

 represented also by 2 native tree species, 1 of which 

 is illustrated here, and by 6 species of herbs and 

 shrubs. Jagiierillo {PhyUanthuf: jtigJandifoUus 

 Willd.; synonyms P. grandifolms auth., not L., 

 Astrmndra grandifoJia auth.), known also as to- 

 billo and gamo de costa, is a small tree with larger 

 oblong or lance-shaped leaves 2-6 inches long. 



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