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19. Phyilanthus debilis Klein ex Willd., Sp. PI. 4: 582. 1805. (Fig. 209).
EUPHORBIACEAE
Phyilanthus nuriri Linn.—Phyilanthus carolianus Blanco—Phyilanthus kirganetiu Blanco—
Phyilanthus pumilus Muell. Arg.—Nymphantnus niruri Lour.—Kirganelia pumila Blanco
Sinh. Pitawakka, Bimnelli; Tarn. Kilanelli, Kilkkaynelli; Hindi Bhonyaabali,
Bhutnanvalah, Jaramla, Sadahazurmani; Sans. Adhyanda, Ajata, Ajuta, Amala, Amlika,
Amrila, Aphala, Bahupatra, Bahupatri, Bahuphala, Bahupushpi, Bhudatra, Bhudhatri,
Bhumyamalaki, Bhuparva, Charati, Chorata, Dalaparshini, Dridhapadi, Hilolika, Jada,
Jharika, Jhatamala, Kshetramali, Mala, Nilolika, Putrashronika, Shiva, Sukshmadala,
Sukshmaphala. Uchchata, Vishagni, Vishvaparni, Vitunnaka, Vitunika, Vrishya.
An annual herb, 30—60 cm tall, stem often branched at base, angular, glabrous; leafbearing
branchlets slender, spreading; leaves simple, alternate, distichous, numerous, crowded,
somewhat imoricated, spreading, very shortly stalked, 1.5—3 cm long, 4.5—5-5 mm broad,
oblong—oval, obtuse, thin, paler beneath, stipules very acute; flowers unisexual, monoecious,
apetalous, axillary, pedicelled and regular; male flowers: very minute, 1.5 mm diameter, often
2 or 3 together in the axils of lower leaves, sepals 6, distinct, imbricate, 0.5 mm long, orbicular,
rounded, reddish green with 6 shining glands between them; stamens 3, anther-cells opening
transversely; female flowers: larger than males, 2.5 mm across, solitary, axillary; sepals 6, I mm
long, oval, subacute with broad, white margins; ovary superior, broader than long. 3-locular with
2 ovules in each loculus, styles 3, bifid; fruit 1.5—2 mm long, depressed, globose, faintly 3-lobed,
quite smooth, splitting into 3, crustaceous, 2-seeded cocci: seeds with slender ribs.
Flowers all the year round.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pi. 1894. 1852; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med.
Plants, pi. 861. 1933: Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Occurs throughout the tropics including the Philippine Islands, except in
Australia. In Ceylon, it is a common weed in waste and cultivated ground.
India. Punjab, T. Thomson; Canara, Talbot % July 1882. Malabar, Concan, etc., Stocks,
Law, etc. Maisor and Carnatic, G. Thomson; Nilghiri, Schmid, 1818—1835. Pen. Ind. Or., Herb.
Wight 2589, Kew Distribution 1866—8. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 2138. Maldive Islands. Veimandu
and Horsburgh Atoll, Gardiner, 1899—1900.
Composition. Contains phyllanthin and a considerable amount of potash.
Uses. Much used as a diuretic in dropsical affections, gonorrhoea and to allay griping
in dysentery and in intermitent fevers. The fresh root is said to be an excellent remedy for
jaundice. The milky juice is effective on offensive sores. The fruits are useful in tubercular
ulcers, wounds, sores, bruises, scabies and ringworm.
In Ceylon, the expressed juice of the plant is given as a diuretic in gonorrhoea and the
root along with other drugs for diarrhoea, while the whole plant ground to a paste is given with
cow's milk for jaundice.
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