If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Phyllanthus casticum

P.Willemet

Phyllanthaceae

+ Synonyms

Diasperus casticum (P.Willemet) Kuntze

Diasperus decipiens (Baill.) Kuntze

Diasperus fasciculatus (Poir.) Kuntze

Kirganelia boiviniana Baill.

Kirganelia decipiens Baill.

Kirganelia elegans Juss. ex Spreng.

Kirganelia glaucescens Baill.

Kirganelia mauritiana Dum.Cours.

Kirganelia phyllanthoides Desf. ex A.Juss.

Kirganelia timorensis Decne.

Kirganelia trilocularis Baill.

Kirganelia virginea J.F.Gmel.

Phyllanthus angavensis Leandri

Phyllanthus boivinianus (Baill.) Voeltzk.

Phyllanthus decipiens (Baill.) Müll.Arg.

Phyllanthus fasciculatus Poir.

Phyllanthus kirganelia Willd.

Phyllanthus mocquerysianus A.DC.

Phyllanthus schimperianus Hemsl.

Phyllanthus timoriensis Müll.Arg.

Phyllanthus virgineus Pers.

Common Name:

Phyllanthus casticum
Flowering branch - only the pinkish male flowers are visible to my untrained eye
Photograph by: Peter B. Phillipson
Creative Commons License
Phyllanthus casticum Phyllanthus casticum Phyllanthus casticum

General Information

Phyllanthus casticum is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 5 metres tall. The bole can be up to 15cm in diameter[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
455
Title
Flore de Madagascar et des Comores
Publication
 
Author
Humbert H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris
Year
1946 - 1984
ISBN
 
Description
Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for localuse as a fod, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

455
Title
Flore de Madagascar et des Comores
Publication
 
Author
Humbert H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle; Paris
Year
1946 - 1984
ISBN
 
Description
Written in French, an excellent flora of the area though it has not been completed. Available for download from the Internet.

Range

Africa - Madagascar, Réunion, Comoros.

Habitat

Dry deciduous savannah and on sandy soils, also along roads, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,600 metres[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height3.50 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

A decoction of the branches and leaves is taken as a refreshing drink[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The fruits are edible and have a sour taste; they are also slightly antipyretic[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. They are used to make an alcoholic drink of inferior quality[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The red to black fruit is a fleshy, globose berry 6 - 9mm in diameter, containing six seeds[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Medicinal

In the traditional medicine of the islands of the Indian Ocean a twig, stem bark or powdered wood decoction is considered astringent and taken to treat severe diarrhoea, dysentery, amoebic dysentery, colic, ulcers and infections of the urogenital tract[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Powdered bark and the pulp of the fresh branches or crushed young leaves are applied as a poultice to treat wounds, abscesses, eczema and syphilitic ulcers[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A twig decoction is gargled to treat a sore throat, toothache and infections in the mouth[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A leaf decoction is drunk to treat asthma and malaria[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
A leaf decoction is used to massage swollen limbs[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A plant infusion is taken to induce menstruation in cases of irregular menstruation as well as for treatment of haemorrhoids and gastric ulcers[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A root decoction is taken to treat tiredness after severe diarrhoea, to improve endurance during hard, physical work, and also to treat nervous depressions and impotence[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The crushed roots are applied as a poultice to furuncles and abscesses[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Root powder is applied to the forehead of children suffering from dizziness and fainting[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The bark contains proanthocyanidol, saponosides and traces of terpenes[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The leaves contain polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidol, steroids, 2-deoxysugars, phyllanthin, hypophyllanthin and traces of alkaloids[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The flavonoids quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1–4)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside and 3,5,7,4’-tetrahydroxyflavone were isolated from the aerial parts[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The roots contain the alkaloids securinine and allosecurinine[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

The leaves are sometimes used for dyeing basketry and cloth, but the colours are not stable[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The twigs are used as disinfecting toothbrushes[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The flexible branches are used in wickerwork and fishing nets[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Phyllanthus+casticum>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.