Phyllanthus acidus, commonly known as star gooseberry, Otaheite gooseberry, or Malay gooseberry, is a tree in the family Phyllanthaceae that bears small edible berries.
Description
thumb|left|Sapling
Phyllanthus acidus is an intermediary between a shrub and tree, reaching 2 to 9 m (6½ to 30 ft) high. The tree's dense and bushy crown is composed of thickish, tough main branches, at the end of which are clusters of deciduous, greenish, 15-to-30-cm long branchlets. The branchlets bear alternate leaves that are ovate or lanceolate in form, with short petioles and pointed ends. The leaves are 2–7.5 cm long and thin, they are green and smooth on the upperside and blue-green on the underside. In general, the star gooseberry tree very much looks like the bilimbi tree.
thumb|left|Leaves
The flowers can be male, female or hermaphrodite.
thumb|200px|right|Tree in greenhouse
Origin and distribution
This tropical or subtropical species is found throughout Asia and also in the Caribbean region, Central and South America. In Puerto Rico is called "Grosella".
While its origin is uncertain, the species may have originated in Madagascar. but also for food and medicinal purposes. While it produces some fruit throughout the year, it is mainly harvested in January except in South India, where it bears crops in April–May and again in August–September.
Nutrition
P. acidus contains 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, adenosine, kaempferol and hypogallic acid.
Uses
Culinary
Various parts of the plant are used for food. In Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, the cooked leaves are eaten. The syrup is used to medicate the stomach, and in India the fruit is eaten as a blood-enhancer for the liver;
Materials
While the wood is strong and durable if properly treated, the tree is not large and is rarely harvested for wood.