Common Name:

General Information

Phyllanthus engleri is a deciduous, spreading and much-branched thorny shrub or small, multi-stemmed tree that can grow up to 8 metres tall but is usually smaller. The bole is usually around 15cm in diameter[, , , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild as a local food, medicine and source of wood. The fruits are sold in local markets[].
Phyllanthus engleri is a fairly widespread species which occurs in a number of woodland and thicket habitats, particularly those on drier and less arable soils. There are no specific threats to the species although its habitat in some localities may have been cleared for agriculture. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2021)[].

Known Hazards

The bark and roots are toxic[].
Smoking the roots can lead to unconsciousness or death and the use of the roots as a suicide poison has been reported from Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe[].
Alcohol extracts of the roots are highly toxic to rodents, and stem bark and roots are poisonous to sheep and cattle[].
Contradicting views exist on the toxicity of the above-ground parts[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, bushland, rarely in evergreen forest, at elevations from 300 - 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in the wild particularly on drier and less arable soils[].
This species hybridizes in the wild with P. polyanthus to give rise to the hybrid P. fluminis-zambesi[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Both young and mature fruits are eaten raw[, ]. The spongy pulp has an acidic taste and rather unpleasant odour, but is nevertheless much liked[]. The juicy fruits can be crushed and squeezed; the juice mixed with lemon juice and onions to make a kind of vinegar which is used as an appetizer[]. The pale, yellow-green, rounded berries are in three sections and are up to 3cm in diameter[].
The fruits have a long shelf life and can be stored in the shade for about 3 months[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves and fruits are chewed as a treatment for coughs and stomach-ache[].

The roots are boiled and the juice is drunk to treat bilharzia, STDs, abdominal pains, menstrual problems and chest
pain[]. Some caution should be exercised because of possible toxicity[].

Other Uses

The stems are used as toothbrushes[].

The wood is used for carvings, poles and making cups and spoons[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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