Breynia officinalis has often been included within the much more widespread species, B. vitis-idaea, but it can be distinguished by the differences in leaf shape (rounded, not acute, apex) and the presence of a basal stalk on the fruits[].
This species may be transferred to the genus Phyllanthus. A paper by Warren L. Wagner and David H. Lorence ‘A nomenclator of Pacific oceanic island Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae), including Glochidion’ PhytoKeys 4:67-94 (2011)[], has proposed submerging the genera Breynia, Glochidion, Reverchonia, Phyllanthodendron, and Sauropus into a broadened concept of the genus Phyllanthus. This proposal has not yet (2014) been fully accepted, although the ‘World Checklist of Selected Plant Families’ has accepted the name changes of the Pacific Island species of Glochidion, as detailed in the paper. No revised form of this name has been seen as yet

Common Name:

General Information

Breynia officinalis is a shrub or small tree growing up to 3 metres tall[].
It is harvested from the wild for its use in traditional medicine[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China, Japan.

Habitat

Thickets and scrub at elevations below 500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

All parts of the plant are used as medicine for treating asthma, sore throat, and eczema[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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